Clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical treatment of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a very rare neoplasm of low malignant potential that mostly affects young women. The aim of the present study is to report our experience in surgical treatment of SPT and review of the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective review of three cases of SPT who were treated at our department during the last two years was performed. The clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical treatment, and prognosis are described in detail. RESULTS Case 1 described an asymptomatic SPT in a pregnant woman. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of SPT in pregnancy has been reported in the literature. Case 2 described an SPT in the pancreatic tail causing splenic infarction, and a distal pancreatectomy combined with splenectomy was performed. Case 3 described an SPT in the pancreatic head, for which a pancreatoduodenectomy was successfully performed. All of the three patients were followed up for 10-22 months without recurrence or metastases after the initial surgery at the time of reporting. CONCLUSIONS At present, radical resection is the treatment of choice for SPT. Enucleation can be performed for tumors with complete amicula. Distal pancreatectomy combined with or without splenectomy can be performed for pancreatic body and/or tail tumor, and pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic head tumor. The prognosis of SPT is good.