Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare pancreatic neoplasm.
This case reports a 63-year-old female previously diagnosed with
bilateral adrenocortical carcinoma post resection who presents
with persistent epigastric pain. Suspicions for recurrence prompted
diagnostics revealing retropancreatic and left suprarenal foci, both
suspicious for malignancy. Resection of both tumors yielded a
moderately to poorly differentiated retropancreatic carcinoma with
differentials not limited to recurrence and pancreatic neuroendocrine
tumor with a left suprarenal lymph node. Immunohistochemistry was
then done and was consistent with SPN having a strong expression for
b-catenin, vimentin, pancytokeratin. It was non-specific to melan-A
and negative for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, inhibin-a and CD10.
At 6 months’ follow up, patient is clinically well and abdominal CT
scan showed no recurrence. SPNs can masquerade as other neoplasms
having similar clinical, radiologic and histopathologic features.
Immunohistochemistry thus plays a crucial role for accurate diagnosis
and management. Surgical resection still remains the treatment of
choice and can provide a 95% overall survival rate, while limited
evidence supports the use of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation.
Immunohistochemistry