Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas: clinical analysis of 45 cases.

AIMS

This study investigated the clinicopathological features and surgical management of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) at a single institution in China.

METHODS

We investigated 45 patients who underwent surgery for pathologically confirmed SPNs between 1996 and 2014.

RESULTS

The 45 cases included 44 female and 1 male patients, and the average age was 32.2 years. The tumor was located in the body and/or tail in 33 patients, the head in 9 patients and the neck in 3 patients. The median tumor size was 6.3 cm (range 1.5 to 16). All 45 patients had curative resections including 29 distal pancreatectomies, 9 pancreaticoduodenectomy, 5 central pancreatectomy and 2 enucleation. 2 patients required superior mesenteric vein resection due to local tumor invasion. Eight patients had malignant tumors. Ki-67 was detected positive in 5 patients with malignant potential. After a median follow-up of 51.7 months, one patient with malignant SPN had evidence of tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSION

SPN is an infrequent tumor, typically affect young women with low malignant potential. Surgical resection is warranted even in the presence of local invasion or metastases as patients demonstrate excellent long-term survival. Positive immunoreactivity for Ki-67 may predict the malignant potential and poor outcome of SPNs.