Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Robotic Duodenum-preserving Total Pancreatic Head Resection for Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms
Published on: April 17, 2026
Childhood pancreatic tumors: a single institution experience
David C Yu1, Harry P Kozakewich, Antonio R Perez-Atayde
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Purpose:
The rarity and histopathologic diversity of primary pancreatic neoplasms in children have made it difficult to predict prognosis and to develop optimal management protocols.
Methods:
A 90-year (1918-2007), single institution, retrospective review of all patients with neoplastic pancreatic masses was performed.
Results:
Eighteen patients were identified with 7 distinct histopathologic subtypes. The most common were gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine, solid pseudopapillary, and acinar tumors. There were 6 benign and 12 malignant tumors. Six patients had disease outside the pancreas at their initial operation. There were 7 deaths (41%), 2 related to the initial operation, 3 from disease progression, 1 from a small bowel obstruction, and 1 from necrotizing pancreatitis. Five deaths were in patients with extrapancreatic disease found at initial operation. The median duration of follow-up for the 10 survivors was 41 months.
Conclusion:
In adults, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is by far the most common histopathologic subtype, with other subtypes more common in children. Stage is an important prognostic factor. Long-term disease-free survival in childhood pancreatic malignancies is achievable with complete surgical resection, prognosis, and adjuvant treatment, depending on the histopathologic type.
