LYMPHOEPITHELIAL CYST OF THE PANCREAS REPORT OF 2 CASES AND REVIEW OFTHE LITERATURE

Conclusion. Lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas (LC) is a very rare benign lesion and preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Conservative su rgery seems to be the appropriate therapy in symptomatic patients or w hen a precise preoperative diagnosis is not achieved, The benign behav ior of all reported cases suggests that the asymptomatic patients with a certain morphological preoperative diagnosis might be clinically fo llowed up, The histogenesis of LC remains to be elucidated. Background . LC of the pancreas is a cyst that is histologically characterized by a fibrous tissue, a lymphoid component and a lining squamous epitheli um. Methods. Clinical and pathological findings of two personal cases are reported with review of the literature. Results. A 56-yr-old man, complaining of epigastric pain, and a 47-yr-old man, with a history of alcohol abuse, were admitted to hospital. In both cases the lesion wa s detected with abdominal ultrasound but a certain diagnosis was obtai ned only after histological examination of the resected cysts.