[Performance and prognosis assessment of the solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas]

Solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPT) of the pancreas are rare neoplasms of low malignant potential that typically affect young women. These are slow-growing lesions and very often reach large size.

Between June 2003 and July 2013 24 patients were submitted to surgery. Twenty three (96%) were females with a median age of 32.4 ± 13.2 years old (range 11 to 69 years old). The mean tumor size was 91.3 ± 49 mm (range 30 to 200 mm). The type of procedure performed was duodenopancreatectomy in 9 cases, middle pancreatectomy in 4, distal pancreatectomy in 8, duodenum preserving pancreatectomy in 2 and diagnostic laparoscopy in 1. SPT had a benign anatomopathology and behaviour in 17 cases, while 3 had a carcinoma pattern and 4 developed distant metastases. Median follow up was 58 months (range 5 to 128 months). Recurrence occurred in 4 patients (16.6%) as liver metastases in 2 and carcinomatosis in 2. The overall survival rate at 5 and 10 years was 94% and 63%, respectively. CONCLUSION. SPT are uncommon neoplasms which are mostly benign. However, up to 20% may display a malignant behavior. More studies are needed to investigate predicting factors of malignant potential. The overall survival is high, even after resection of metastases.