[Pancreatic tail tumor as an unusual first manifestation of Wegener's disease]
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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Generation of an Orthotopic Xenograft of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Ultrasound-Guided Injection
Published on: November 1, 2021
S U Christl1, F Borchard, R Keller
1II. Medizinische Abteilung, Allgemeines Krankenhaus Harburg, Hamburg. stefan.christl@gmx.de
Abstract:
A fifty-year-old, previously healthy woman presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. Diagnostic work-up revealed a mass in the tail of the pancreas with the appearance of a pancreatic carcinoma. Partial pancreatectomy was performed. Postoperatively, the patient's kidney function deteriorated. Pathohistological examination of the resected tissue showed a granulomatous vasculitis but no maligant tumor. Renal biopsy revealed a rapid progressive glomerulonephritis. Positive C-ANCA screening confirmed the diagnosis of Wegener's disease and an immunosuppressive therapy was established. This case demonstrates the difficult management of a potentially benign pancreatic mass, as reliable discrimination from pancreatic adenocarcinoma is not always possible.
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