We present our surgical experiences with functioning neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas to define its natural history, and to suggest its proper management. From June 1990 to June 2005, patients with diagnosis of functioning neuroendocrine (islet cell) neoplasms of the pancreas were retrospectively reviewed. Fourteen patients (5 men and 9 women) with a median age of 49 years (range, 12 - ...

Different types of benign or malignant cystic lesions can be observed in the pancreas. Pancreatic cystic lesions are classified under pathology terms into simple retention cysts, pseudocysts and cystic neoplasms. Mucinous cystic neoplasm is a frequent type of cystic neoplasm and has a malignant potential. Serous cystadenoma follows in frequency and is usually benign. Intraductal papillary mucin...

CONTEXT Parapharyngeal space tumors comprise less than 0.5% of all head and neck neoplasms. The majority of these tumors are benign, but surgery is usually required to establish the diagnosis and treat the patients. We present 26 patients treated surgically for tumors arising in the parapharyngeal space (PPS) at the State University of Campinas Hospital--UNICAMP. CASES SERIES Of these, 17 (65...

BACKGROUND The risk and mortality due to cancer in patients with acromegaly have been previously investigated. Although GH/IGF-1 excess provides a probable pathophysiological explanation, the degree of IGF-1 excess and the role in acromegaly-associated neoplasms of diabetes, a common comorbidity in acromegaly with known association with cancer, remains unclear. METHODS Acromegalic patients tr...

Solitary fibrous tumors are rare spindle cell neoplasms that typically occur in the thorax but have been described in various locations within the abdomen and head and neck region. The most common extrapleural site is the oral cavity, but these tumors have been also described in the orbit, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, and larynx. We describe a case of a solitary fibrous tumo...

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an integral part of routine neuroimaging, used nearly universally in brain MRIs, and more recently for the spine, spinal cord, and head and neck. DWI provides clinically relevant information on conditions including stroke, infection, and neoplasms. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a powerful, newer technique with the potential for multiple protocols, includi...

The majority of neoplasms within the external auditory canal are benign. Management of these primary tumors and their local recurrences are discussed herein. We present a case of an isolated myxoma of the external auditory canal with a review of the common histopathological and radiographic features. Although rare, this highlights the possibility of encountering benign tumor types that carry as...

Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are benign neoplasms that are most commonly found in the head and neck region. We present a case of endobronchial granular cell tumor presenting as hemoptysis in a 22-year-old African American female. Patient subsequently underwent a right upper and middle lobectomy, and upon histologic analysis was found to have GCT with borders impinging upon cartilage and adjacent...

Apocrine hidrocystomas (cystadenomas) are cystic cutaneous neoplasms derived from apocrine sweat glands (1, 2), and they most often present in adults as solitary (rarely multiple) lesions involving the head, eyelids and neck (3). They are also reported infrequently in the apocrine gland bearing areas like axillae, areola of the nipple, periumbilical, anal, and genital areas (3, 4). We present a...

Paragangliomas are neoplasms of neural crest origin. In the head and neck, they uncommonly involve the larynx. The distinction between paragangliomas and other neuroendocrine tumors can be difficult. Precise diagnosis is important in order to optimize patient treatment. Diagnosis relies mostly on histopathologic examination followed by immunohistochemistry. Here we report a 77-year-old woman wi...