PAPILLARY CYSTIC TUMOR OF THE PANCREAS

We report on three female patients with solid pseudopapillary tumors o f the pancreas. The histogenetic origin of this entity is still unclea r. The tumor, usually occurring in young women, forms large masses (up to 10 cm in diameter) before becoming symptomatic. Metastases have ve ry rarely been reported. In contrast to other pancreatic tumors, the m ain pancreatic duct was displaced, but of normal caliber without steno sis, in all our patients. Despite the large size of the tumors, they w ere curatively resected in all three cases. Two of the tumors infiltra ted the parenchyma or adipose tissue of the pancreas but did not sprea d into the lymph nodes or other organs. All of the patients are alive and without signs of tumor recurrence up to 8 years after surgical res ection.