Surgical outcomes for solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare exocrine tumor of

the pancreas with low malignant potential. This study was designed to evaluate

surgical outcome of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN). METHODOLOGY: From

Between January 1994 to November 2013, 41 patients were diagnosed with SPN of the

pancreas at Ajou University Medical Center and underwent surgical resection.

RESULTS: Of the 41 patients, 33(80.5%) were female and 8(19.5%) were male with a

mean age of 34.5 years (range, 12-63 years). The most common location of SPN was

the tail (43.9%). Mean diameters of SPN was 5.5 cm (range, 1.2- 14.5 cm).

Nineteen patients (46.3%) had non-specific abdominal symptoms that had been

investigated. Surgical treatment included distal pancreatectomy in 21,

pancreaticoduodenectomy in 11, segmental resection of pancreas in 4, enucleation

in 2, excision in 2 and surgical biopsy in 1. Thirty-nine of the 41 patients were

disease-free at a median follow-up of 59 months (range, 1-125 months).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed as SPN should receive surgical resection because

of the excellent prognosis. Closed follow-up is recommended after surgery, even

in patients without pathological malignant potential. For metastasis or

recurrence, an aggressive surgical treatment is necessary because of the good

possibility of long-term survival.