title: Squamoid cystosis of pancreatic ducts: a variant of a newly-described cystic lesion, with evidence for an obstructive etiology.
abstract: We describe a 40-year-old man who was found to have a cystic mass in the pancreatic tail during workup for weight loss and abdominal discomfort. Although computed tomography scan showed a single cyst associated with dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, gross and histologic examination of the distal pancreatectomy specimen actually revealed a central cyst that was surrounded by multiple smaller cystic spaces. This distinctive appearance was formed from extensive cystic dilatation and squamous metaplasia of the native pancreatic duct system. Further, a traumatic neuroma was discovered near the junction between normal and abnormal parenchyma. We believe that this case represents a variant of the newly-described squamoid cyst of pancreatic ducts which we term squamoid cystosis of pancreatic ducts. The presence of chronic pancreatitis and a traumatic neuroma supports the hypothesis that squamoid cysts are non-neoplastic lesions arising from prior duct obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Wai Chin
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Huamin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Victor G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Abraham
keywords: benign; pancreas; tumors