Retrospective analysis of short term outcomes after spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy for sodid pseudopapillary tumours. Int J Surg. 2015;21 Suppl 1:S26-S29. [PMID: 26118599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.06.047]

Robotic-assisted, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy for a solid pseudopapillary tumour in a pediatric patient: a case report and review of the literature

Solid pseudopapillary tumour is a rare carcinoma of the pancreas with low-grade malignant potential that typically presents in females in their third decade. The tumour most commonly occurs in the tail of the pancreas, although any site can be affected. Surgical resection is the standard treatment and offers an excellent prognosis. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery is an emerging technique for the treatment of pancreatic neoplasms. We report a case of a 17-year-old female with acute onset abdominal pain who was found to have a mass in the distal pancreas. A robotic-assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with spleen preservation was successfully performed, its first reported use in a pediatric patient. The patient had an uncomplicated recovery. The robotic approach can be considered for younger patients presenting with a solid pseudopapillary tumour in the distal pancreas.

Pancreatic surgery for tumors in children and adolescents

PURPOSE

Pancreatic neoplasms are uncommon in children. This study sought to analyze the clinical and pathological features of surgically resected pancreatic tumors in children and discuss management strategies.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients ≤21 years with pancreatic neoplasms who underwent surgery at a single institution between 1995 and 2015.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients were identified with a median age at operation of 16.6 years (IQR 13.5-18.9). The most common histology was solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) (n = 13), followed by pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (n = 3), serous cystadenoma (n = 2) and pancreatoblastoma (n = 1). Operative procedures included formal pancreatectomy (n = 17), enucleation (n = 1) and central pancreatectomy (n = 1). SPNs were noninvasive in all but one case with perineural, vascular and lymph node involvement. Seventeen patients (89.5 %) are currently alive and disease free at a median follow-up of 5.7 (IQR 3.7-10.9) years. Two patients died: one with metastatic insulinoma and another with SPN who developed peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to a concurrent rectal adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric pancreatic tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplastic lesions for which surgery can be curative. SPN is the most common histology, is characterized by low malignant potential and in selected cases can be safely and effectively treated with a tissue-sparing resection and minimally invasive approach.

Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms: An Update

The incidence of pancreatic cystic neoplasms is rising, in part from detection through the increasing use of high-resolution cross-sectional imaging techniques. Initial diagnosis is generally based on imaging characteristics identified on computed tomography and/or MRI. Endoscopic ultrasound provides further imaging characterization and also enables fluid aspiration and analysis to additionally aid differentiation. The general approach to these lesions includes surgical intervention and/or surveillance imaging. Taking into account diverse presentations, varying malignant potential, and the uncertain natural history of some of these lesions, an evidence-based approach is limited. This article discusses recent updates in the diagnosis and management of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas.