An Unusual Cause of Chronic Back Pain: Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) are rare, low-grade malignant tumors of the pancreas comprising 1%-2% of pancreatic neoplasms. Predominantly affecting young women, these tumors are typically slow-growing and often discovered incidentally during imaging for non-specific symptoms. This case describes a young female patient who presented with acute-onset back pain without prior significant medical history or trauma. Initial evaluation suggested a musculoskeletal etiology; however, persistent symptoms prompted further imaging, which revealed a pancreatic mass. Subsequent diagnostic workup, including cross-sectional imaging and histopathological analysis, confirmed the diagnosis of an SPN of the pancreas. The patient underwent surgical resection with a favorable postoperative recovery. This case highlights the atypical presentation of SPN as isolated back pain and underscores the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis when evaluating persistent, unexplained pain in young patients.