A case of pancreatic serous cystadenoma obstructing the distal pancreatic duct

Oncol Rep. 2001 Jul-Aug;8(4):811-3. doi: 10.3892/or.8.4.811.

Abstract

We present a case of resected serous cystadenoma of the pancreas inducing marked dilatation of the main distal pancreatic duct. A 68-year-old woman, previously diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, presented with upper abdominal pain. Abdominal US revealed a highly echoic mass in the pancreas. A CT scan disclosed a low density mass in the pancreas and dilatation of the main peripheral pancreatic duct. The mass demonstrated homogeneous and high signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Selective abdominal arteriography showed the mass strained by the celiac artery. The tumor markers were CEA (2.4 ng/ml) and CA19-9 (6.1 U/ml). After the diagnosis of serous cystadenoma of the pancreas, the patient underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. The tumor (2.5 cm in diameter) consisted of grayish-white nodules and occupied the body of the pancreas. The tail of the pancreas was atrophic. Histopathological examination of the specimen showed a multilocular lesion containing numerous cysts with the inner surfaces evenly lined by one layer of cuboid or flat epithelial cells which stained positive for periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), evidencing serous cystadenoma. The patient is doing quite well one and a half years after the operation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • CA-19-9 Antigen / analysis
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / chemistry
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / pathology*
  • Cystadenoma, Serous / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pancreatectomy
  • Pancreatic Ducts / chemistry
  • Pancreatic Ducts / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • CA-19-9 Antigen
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen