title: Cystic "feminine" pancreatic neoplasms in men. Do any clinical alterations correlate with these uncommon entities?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) and solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas are uncommon hormone-related pancreatic tumors (HRPTs) with a clear predominance in young women. This trial aims to investigate the possible association between HRPTs development in males and phenotypic and sex hormone alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of our database between February 1990 and February 2012. Risk factors for sexual dysfunction were considered exclusion criteria. We investigated secondary sexual characteristics development, sex hormone level and overall sexual dysfunction degree according with the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We initially identified 25 patients [(MCN: n = 16 (64%); SPN: n = 9 (36%)]. At follow-up, 5 patients were lost, 8 resulted dead and 3 were excluded according to exclusion criteria. We finally enrolled 9 patients (MCN: n = 5; SPN: n = 4). Puberty occurred within physiological age for 7 patients, whereas it was delayed in 2 cases. Three patients revealed mild to moderate sexual dysfunction, along with low testosterone level in two cases. One patient presented hormonal alteration with a normal IIEF score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the first in literature with similar aim, hormonal and/or sexual dysfunction was present in 4 out of 9 patients affected by HRPT. The rarity of these lesions makes further trials to be needed for reliable conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Pancreas Institute, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. paoloregi@tiscali.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Regi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cena
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girelli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Frigerio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bassi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003536:Cystadenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018291:Cystadenoma, Mucinous / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones