Solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas. Report of a case with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology.
BACKGROUND: Solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas is a distinct clinicopathologic entity. It has a benign clinical course, and surgical resection can be curative. CASE: A 17-year-old female presented with a mass measuring about 12 cm in the epigastrium and left hypochondrium. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed papillae with a central fibrovascular core and lined with many layers of bland-appearing cells exhibiting nuclear grooving. These features, along with ultrasound and computed tomographic findings, led to an accurate preoperative diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In the setting of typical clinical and radiologic findings, it is possible to make a correct preoperative diagnosis by FNAC. Doing so has important implications for management.