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An unusual case of gastric heterotopic pancreas
Laura Rubbia-Brandt1, Olivier Huber, Antoine Hadengue
1Division of Clinical Pathology, Clinic of Digestive Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Context:
Submucosal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract represent a diagnostic challenge for the physician. Endoscopic ultrasonography may provide useful information before deciding on therapeutic strategy.
Case Report:
We report on a case of a young female presenting with a large gastric submucosal mass, 32 mm in size. Endoscopic ultrasonography identified a non-homogeneous lesion, with three cystic spaces suggesting a degenerated gastrointestinal stromal tumor. An exploratory laparoscopy was performed. Surprisingly, the final diagnosis was gastric heterotopic pancreas.
Conclusion:
Heterotopic pancreas should always be kept in mind when facing extramucosal gastric masses, especially in young people. A perioperative biopsy is recommended to prevent unnecessary extensive surgery.
