The recent prevalence of ultrasonography (US) and US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) can make us easily diagnose papillary carcinoma of 1.0 cm or less in maximal diameter, which is called papillary microcarcinoma. In the face of the fact that cervical lymph node metastasis and multicentricity are two prominent clinical characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, the question How to treat papillary microcarcinoma has given rise to controversy. In this review, we discuss the clinical behavior, the appropriate therapeutic strategies, the factors affecting prognosis, and the methods for following up the patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; classification ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

Solid and papillary neoplasms of the pancreas, a rare tumor usually found in young female patients, seldom presents with metastasis since it is a tumor with low potential for malignancy. The prognosis for this lesion is much more favorable than that for other pancreatic neoplasms. In an attempt to understand the characteristics and prognosis of this lesion, we reviewed twenty cases treated at the Department of Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University from 1985 to 1994. The mean age of the patients was 25.6 years (range: 13 to 39 years), and 19 (95%) were women. Chief complaints were palpable mass (50%), pain (45%), and indigestion(5%). In laboratory studies, tumor markers, including CEA, CA125, CA19-9, and aFP were studied in eight patients, and found negative. Other laboratory findings were also nonspecific. These tumors may occur anywhere in the pancreas. In our studies, the tumor was most often located in the tail (45%), and the head (40%) of the pancreas. These were treated by distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy (55%), Whipple's operation (20%), pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (10%), enucleation (10%) or excision (5%). Significant morbidity or mortality was not observed during hospitalization, and no recurrence or malignant degeneration occurred during the mean follow-up period of 4 years (range: 1 month to 9 years). In conclusion, this study has suggested that the patients with a solid and papillary neoplasm of the pancreas have a good prognosis for successful treatment, if the disease is diagnosed early and the tumor is completely resected. A higher index of suspicion, and more aggressive diagnostic workups are needed in dealing with this disease entity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnosis/*pathology/surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis/*pathology/surgery

Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Goiter, Nodular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Hashimoto Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroid Nodule ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and treatment of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP).

METHODSThe clinical course, surgical treatment, and pathological findings of 13 patients with SPTP were analyzed.

RESULTSSPTP has no specific clinical symptoms. The patients mostly have abdominal pain and space occupying symptoms. Laboratory investigations of some patients showed decreased pancreatic exocrine function and elevated CA242 of tumor markers. Ultrasonography and CT revealed large solid cystic tumor of pancreas. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed lacked-blood-supply space occupying lesion. All tumors were resected successfully. The histological findings showed a large encapsulated tumor and the section of tumor surrounded by hemorrhagic and necrotic areas. The solid areas are composed of small and medium size tumor cells, which had no obvious atypia. Psudopapillary structures were found in the cystic degeneration areas. Immunohistochemically, most of the tumors were positive for alpha-antitrypsin (alpha-AT) and vimentin and negative for chromogrannin. No patients recurrence during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSMost of SPTP can be removed successfully after diagnosis. The tumor and local infiltration tissue should be removed completely, and the long-term prognosis of SPTP is good.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; pathology ; surgery ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is a unique disease entity that is characterized by predominant intraductal growth of mucinous cells, copious mucin production, and subsequent cystic dilatation of pancreatic ducts. IPMN shows a spectrum of histologic and imaging findings and possesses as the potential for malignant transformation arising from adenoma to invasive carcinoma. It is important to determine the type, extent of duct involvement, and presence of malignant transformation, and to assess tumor grading prior to surgical resection. Thus, it would be helpful for physicians managing patients with IPMN of the pancreas to have a guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of IPMN. In this review, a role of radiological evaluation for diagnosis and preoperative assessment is described as well as presentation of the guideline for patient management.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Preoperative Care ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

With increasing indence and peculiar clinico-pathological features, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas has been a major interest in the field of pancreatology. Although pathologic and clinical diversities make difficulty in decision of treatment of IPMN in some circumstances, surgical treatment is generally indicated for main duct IPMN and branch duct IPMN with suspected malignancy (tumor size >or=30 mm, mural nodules, dilated main pancreatic duct, or positive cytology) or prominent symptoms. IPMN has a favorable prognosis after the resection. However, invasive IPMN shows poor prognosis comparable to stage-matched pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Conventional pancreatic resection is recommended in case of highly suspected malignant cases, and organ preserving pancreatectomy or minimal invasive surgery could be used, especially in benign looking branch duct IPMN. Before the surgical resection, clinician should consider patient's general and social condition as well as risk of malignancy to select proper type and extent of surgery.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; *Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Preoperative Care ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features, biological behavior, diagnosis and treatment of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP).

METHODSA retrospective clinical and clinicopathologic analysis was made on 33 cases of SPTP admitted from May 2001 to 2010 July. There were 7 male and 26 female patients, aging from 13 to 66 years with a mean of 34.3 years.

RESULTSThe tumor was located in pancreatic head of 10 patients, in pancreatic neck of 5 patients, in pancreatic body and tail of 18 patients. Of the 33 patients treated with surgery, 8 underwent simple resection of pancreatic tumor, 6 underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, 3 underwent tumor resection plus pancreaticojejunostomy, 1 underwent tumor resection plus pancreaticogastrostomy, 11 underwent distal pancreatectomy, 4 underwent distal pancreatectomy plus spleen resection (1 underwent mesohepatectomy for hepatic metastasis). Sixteen of the 33 operations were completed by laparoscopy. Histologically, tumors were composed of papillary and microcystic solid structures, with uniformed population of cells. The pancreas and blood vessels invasion were identified in 3 cases, one of them was combined with liver metastasis, and they are male. Immunohistologically, the tumors were positive for α1-antitrypsin, α1-antichymotrypsin, β-catenin, CD10, CD56 and vimentin (all cases), neuron-specific enolase (3 cases), synaptophysin (6 cases), chromogranin A (4 cases), progesterone receptor (28 cases), estrogen receptor (3 cases), S-100 (6 cases). Totally 33 cases were followed up with a median period of 49 months without tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSSPTP is of low graded malignancy. It primarily affects young women. It may be located in any part of pancreas. Immunohistochemistry is very important for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SPTP. Surgical resection is recommended as the treatment of choice. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy or tumor resection is feasible and safe for some selected patients, and the prognosis is good.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Papillary ependymoma is a rare variant of ependymoma and often gives rise to confusion with choroid plexus papilloma because of topographic, light microscopic and ultrastructural similarities. Here, we report two cases of papillary ependymomas regarding their unique clinicopathologic features and differential points from choroid plexus papilloma. Brain MRI revealed a large mass in the left lateral ventricle in one case and a 3cm sized mass in the pineal area and the 3rd ventricle in the other. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by papillary and tubular structures. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells in both cases expressed cytokeratins(CK22 and CAM 5.2) but did not express glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, and S100 protein. This is a very unusual immunohistochemical feature for papillary ependymoma. Ultrastructurally, the tumor showed a mosaic pattern of tumor cells with frequent intercellular microrosettes having a few stubby microvilli, a few cilia and zonulae adherentes. The cytoplasmic processes were markedly reduced compared to conventional ependymoma. The cytoplasm did not contain intermediate filaments. Interestingly, the mitochondria showed abnormal features with a pleomorphic shape and abnormal cristae in both cases. These ultrastructural features enabled differentiation between papillary ependymoma and choroid plexus papilloma in addition to the light microscopic findings.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Papillary/*pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma/*pathology/surgery ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glioma/*pathology ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Age

Xanthogranulomatous lesion is a rare condition in which lipid-laden histiocytes are deposited at various locations in the body. Xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis (XGP) associated with an intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) is extremely rare. In this study, we described a case of XGP associated with IPMT and include a review of the literature. A pancreatic cystic mass was detected in a 72-yr-old woman by abdominal computed tomography. Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed and diagnosis of XGP combined with intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma in situ was made. After 13 months of follow-up, the patient is in good health without any evidence of tumor recurrence. Although XGP associated with IPMT is rare, we suggest that such cases should be brought to the attention of clinical investigators, as it may produce clinical features that mimic pancreatic cancer.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Aged ; Carcinoma in Situ/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Granuloma/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreatitis/complications/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Xanthomatosis/complications/*diagnosis