Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor : Overview

Comments:
Introduction: Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) is a rare pancreatic tumor of low malignant potential that occurs predominantly in adolescent girls and young females. The histogenesis is uncertain, although a few hypotheses have been put forward.

SPT is characterized morphologically by small, monomorphic tumor cells arranged in solid sheets and discohesive pseudopapillary structures, along with hemorrhagic-cystic changes.

Approximately 15% of patients with SPT develop metastatic disease, mostly involving the liver or peritoneum. The prognosis is good in most cases after surgical resection of the tumor. Even in the presence of disseminated disease, there is an overall 5-year survival of 97%.

Case History: The patient was a young female who presented with vomitting and dull aching abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant. CT abdomen revealed a well-defined solid and cystic lesion in the tail of pancreas concerning for a neoplasm. Distal pancreatectomy was performed.

The specimen shows a well-circumscribed cyst measuring 5 cm in diameter as well as an ill-defined pink-tan solid mass. The cyst was filled with hemorrhagic fluid. The tail of pancreas is seen on the left in this image. Microscopic examination was diagnostic of solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas.

Case courtesy of: Dr. Sanjay D. Deshmukh (Prof. of Pathology) and Dr. J. M. Gadekar (Chief of Surgery), Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Medical College and Hospitals, Ahmednagar, India.