A CASE OF NONFUNCTIONING CYSTIC ENDOCRINE TUMOR OF THE PANCREAS

• Published in: Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association) Vol. 61; no. 11; pp. 3042 - 3045
• Main Authors: ARAKI, Masato, YAMAGUCHI, Hiroyuki, HAYASHI, Tomayoshi, TSUJI, Takashi, NAKAGOE, Toru, AYABE, Hiroyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Surgical Association 2000
• ISSN: 1345-2843; 1882-5133
• DOI: 10.3919/jjsa.61.3042

A 49-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of a cystic mass in the body of the pancreas by ultrasonology. Abdominal computed tomography showed a cystic mass 4×3cm in diameter enhanced in the early phase. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilocular cysts whose margin was smooth and cyst wall was highly and homogeneously enhanced in a dynamic study. With a suspicion of nonfunctioning endocrine tumor or solid and cystic tumor, a pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. The tumor 4.3×3.3 in diameter developed in the pancreas body and its surface was reddish and smooth. The cystic formation of the tumor was caused by necrosis and degeneration. Pathological and immunohistochemical studies indicated nonfunctioning islet cell tumor. Nonfunctioning endocrine tumors are rich in vascularity and so cystic formation rarely occurs in them, though it becomes common as the tumors increase in size. This case of nonfunctioning cystic endocrine tumor which showed cystic formation regardless of its size (as small as maximum diameter of 4.3cm) is rare in a review of the literature.