title: Preoperative diagnosis of a solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas by Endoscopic Ultrasound Fine Needle Biopsy: A retrospective case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas (SPTP) is a rare neoplasm.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We herein present five cases of SPTP diagnosed using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine-needle biopsy (FNB) using a needle with side fenestration (ProCore-needle).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2011 to June 2012 in five patients with SPTP tissue acquisition was carried out with a 19-gauge (4 patients) or a 22-gauge (one patient) needle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 30.8 years, the mean lesion size was 49mm and the most common location was the tail of the pancreas (3 cases). When the samples were evaluated macroscopically, small core fragments were observed in all cases. A preoperative diagnosis of SPTP was made in all patients on the basis of the histocytological and characteristic immunophenotypic patterns and was confirmed at final surgical histology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, EUS-FNB is an effective and secure method for a preoperative diagnosis of SPTP.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Gastroenterology, AUSL Bologna Bellaria-Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maimone
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luigiano
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baccarini
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fornelli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cennamo
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polifemo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiscaletti
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Biase
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jaboli
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Virgilio
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stelitano
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masetti
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jovine
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabbri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D057234:Preoperative Period; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Endoscopic ultrasound; Fine-needle biopsy; Pancreatic mass; Solid pseudopapillary tumour