[Intrapancreatic accessory spleen].

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Accessory spleen is a congenital anomaly, often found incidentally.
• Intrapancreatic accessory spleen is a rare variant that can be mistaken for pancreatic tumors.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

• A case series of three patients with intrapancreatic accessory spleen was analyzed.
• Two patients underwent robotic distal pancreatectomy due to suspected pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor or renal cell cancer metastasis.
• One patient was diagnosed non-surgically via CT and MRI.

Findings:

• Intrapancreatic accessory spleen presents a diagnostic challenge, mimicking pancreatic tumors.
• CT and MRI characteristics can be similar for accessory spleen, neuroendocrine tumors, and renal cell cancer metastases.
• Postoperative recovery was uneventful in surgically treated patients.

Implications:

• Minimally invasive surgical approaches are valuable for differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses.
• Early and accurate diagnosis prevents unnecessary aggressive treatments.
• Understanding imaging characteristics aids in distinguishing accessory spleen from malignant lesions.