Remember the Pitfall: Intrapancreatic Accessory Spleen Mimicking Neuroendocrine Neoplasm

We report of a 71-year-old woman with a 2-cm somatostatin receptor-positive intrapancreatic lesion almost misdiagnosed as neuroendocrine neoplasm. By additional red blood cell scintigraphy with heat-damaged erythrocytes, the lesion was identified as an intrapancreatic accessory spleen, and unnecessary operation (which was already planned) could be avoided. This case report reminds colleagues to consider accessory spleen as differential diagnosis for somatostatin receptor-positive lesions even when located inside the pancreas. In doubtful cases, a scintigraphy with heat-damaged erythrocytes is a very useful and complementary imaging method and should be performed before any planning of surgery.