Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: a case report with review of the diagnostic dilemmas and tumor behavior.
Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas is a rare tumor of the pancreas often detected initially on imaging. Of uncertain histogenesis, it has a low-grade malignant potential with excellent post-surgical curative rates and rare metastasis. Despite advances in imaging, pseudocysts and other cystic neoplasms feature in the differential diagnosis. Pathological and/or cytological evaluation remains the gold standard in reaching a definitive diagnosis. On morphology alone, other primary pancreatic tumors and metastatic tumors pose a diagnostic challenge. Recent advances in immunohistochemical characterization have made the histopathologic diagnosis more specific and, in turn, shed light on the likely histogenesis of this rare tumor. We report a case of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas that was suspected on radiology and diagnosed intraoperatively on imprint cytology guiding definitive surgery. The diagnostic dilemmas are reviewed.
Head of Department, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Khoud, PO Box 35 P.C 123, Sultanate of Oman.
Ritu
R
Lakhtakia
Khalifa
K
Al-Wahaibi
Khawaja F
KF
Zahid
Kamran A
KA
Malik
Ikram A
IA
Burney
Beta-catenin; E-cadherin; Pancreas; Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN)