Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the uncinate process of the pancreas in a 9-year-old child

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) is a rare tumor of the pancreas with a low degree of malignancy. This tumor is most common in the female field, and in the children's population, this pathology is less common and occurs on average for the ages of 11-14 years old. The differential diagnosis of the tumor is difficult due to the lack of specific symptoms. The most informative methods of examination are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgical treatment is currently the most beneficial method of choice for the treatment of SPT.

A 9-year-old girl for the first time experienced multiple episodes of vomiting and abdominal pain against the background of complete well-being. There were performed ultrasound examination, CT, and MRI, the results of which revealed a cystic neoplasm of the head of the pancreas. There was carried out a differential diagnosis with serous cystadenoma, mucosal cystadenoma, and SPT. The child underwent surgical intervention - upper-median laparotomic access and enucleation of the tumor of the hook-shaped process of the pancreas. The postoperative period proceeded smoothly. According to the histological examination, there was identified the solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

The presented clinical case of tumor enucleation of a rare uncinate process tumor in a child is an alternative to radical surgical resections of the pancreas.