A case report of huge pancreas mucinous cystic neoplasm during pregnancy: How doctors think

Pancreas mucinous cystic neoplasm (PMCN) is uncommon, and its occurrence during pregnancy is rare. The management of PMCN during pregnancy, including diagnosis and surgical timing, is a great challenge.

A nontender epigastric mass of the upper abdomen was detected by palpation in a 35-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, during the 36th week of gestation. She was referred to our institution for further evaluation.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a multilocular cystic mass in the body and tail of the pancreas (16.7/12.1/17.6 cm), well-circumscribed with a hyper signal on T2-weighted MRI images. The diagnosis of a pancreatic cyst, probable mucinous, was established.

The patient was informed of the possibilities of malignancy, rapid growth, and rupture of the tumor. After a laparotomy and cesarean section, a large cystic tumor was discovered adherent to the pancreas, spleen, mesocolon, and retroperitoneum. The spleen was preserved since there was no evidence of invasion. According to macroscopic examinations, the tumor measured 18 cm was filled with a dark yellow-brownish mucinous fluid and did not appear to communicate with the pancreatic ducts.

After six months of follow-up, there were no signs of recurrence in the patient.

PMCN may need to be surgically resected in cases characterized by malignancy risk during pregnancy. As female sex hormones may influence the behavior of PMCN during pregnancy, surgical timing should be determined based on the stage of pregnancy, malignancy status, and condition of the mother and fetus.