A case of non-functioning endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas, with jaundice, a dilated common bile duct, and panceatic retention cysts

• Published in: Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association) Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 1266 - 1271
• Main Authors: YOKOI, Keigo, ORIHATA, Michihiro, TUKADA, Kenji, KUNII, Yasuhiro, HARAGUCHI, Yoshiaki, KOBAYASHI, Shigeru, YAMASAKI, Shigetaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Surgical Association 2011
• Subjects: dilatation of the common bile duct; non–functioning endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas; retention cysts of the pancreas
• ISSN: 1345-2843; 1882-5133
• DOI: 10.3919/jjsa.72.1266

A 49-year-old male who had complained of epigastralgia for a month and had noted dark urine for approximately 2 weeks, came to our hospital for evaluation. His abdominal CT scan showed an irregular enhanced tumor at the head of the pancreas, and cystic lesions on the cranial side of the tumor. MRCP revealed that the common bile duct and main pancreatic duct were compressed by the cysts and tumor, and both showed peripheral dilatation. Abdominal angiography showed no vessel invasion by the tumor, and demonstrated heterogeneous staining of the tumor. He was diagnosed as having adenocarcinoma at the pancreas head, and underwent a pancreatico-duodenectomy. The tumor, measuring 4.3 cm×4.2 cm in size, occupied the pancreatic head, and the pathological diagnosis was non-functioning well-differentiated endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas. The main pancreatic duct was completely destroyed by the tumor. Retention cysts were observed on the cranial side of the tumor, and the common bile duct near the papilla of Vater was obliterated by the tumor. The patient had no complications after the surgery, and was discharged from our hospital after one month.