[A case of papillary tumor of the pancreas]

The authors report a case of papillary cystic tumor which is a rare form of pancreatic tumor of exocrine origin. A young woman presenting with a painful abdominal mass was operated on for a tumor of the head of the pancreas. Gross and microscopic examination revealed a papillary cystic tumor of the pancreas. Tests for histologic markers found progesterone receptors. A review of the literature found approximately 100 cases of papillary cystic tumors of the pancreas. This type of tumor is seen mainly in young women presenting with an abdominal mass. After complete resection of the tumor, these patients usually make an uneventful recovery. Since regrowth of the tumor may occur these patients should be submitted to prolonged follow-up.