BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) are rare and manifest as functioning tumor (FT) or non-functioning tumor (NFT). Although malignant changes are observed in some cases, its prognosis is better than pancreatic cancer. We evaluated clinicoradiologic features and prognosis of FT and NFT. In addition, we tried to find the predictive factors for the recurrence of NFT after resection. METHODS: Between October 1994 and June 2004, we retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of 12 cases of FT and 31 cases of NFT diagnosed by surgical pathology at single medical center in Korea. RESULTS: PNET included 6 insulinomas, 4 gastrinomas, 1 glucagonoma, 1 somatostatinoma and 31 NFT. The major clinical manifestations were neuroglycopenic symptoms (100%) in insulinoma, abdominal ulcer symptoms (75%) in gastrinoma, dermatitis (100%) in glucagonoma, steatorrhea (100%) in somatostatinoma, and abdominal discomfort or pain (45%) in NFT. NFT was located more proximally when compared to FT (p=0.023). NFT showed more malignant (64.5%) behavior compared to FT (41.7%) despite the lack of statistical significance. Curative resections were done without postoperative death in 38 cases. Six cases of NFT (21.4%) and 1 case of FT (10%) recurred with an average of 26.5 months. In the recurrent NFT, the findings of diabetes mellitus (p=0.010), abnormal pancreatic duct (p=0.026), Whipple's operation (p=0.013) and tumor emboli (p=0.03) were more common than in non-recurrent NFT. CONCLUSIONS: FT and NFT showed different clinicoradiologic features. In addition, NFT should be monitored more carefully because of frequent recurrence.
Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/pathology ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/complications/*diagnosis ; Pancreatic Ducts/abnormalities/pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis ; Whipple Disease/complications

A heterotopic pancreas in the gastrointestinal tract is mostly found incidentally and its malignant transformation is extremely rare. We describe the second case of adenocarcinoma arising in a gastric heterotopic pancreas of an asymptomatic 35-yr-old man in Korea. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor with an irregular central umbilication in the gastric antrum. A wedge resection specimen demonstrated a submucosal oligolocular cystic mass (1.7x1.4x1.2 cm) with a solid portion. Microscopically, the cystic portion was composed of dilated pancreaticobiliary type ducts with adjacent small foci of periductal glandular structures. The adenocarcinoma components in the solid area infiltrated the proper muscle and the overlying mucosa of the stomach. The transitional area between the benign ductal structures and the adenocarcinoma component was found. The follow-up course was uneventful 5 months postoperatively.
Adenocarcinoma/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Adenomyoma/pathology ; Adult ; Autopsy ; Choristoma ; Epithelium/pathology ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology ; Human ; Male ; Pancreas/*abnormalities ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Time Factors

While long-standing diabetes is a risk factor of pancreatic cancer, new-onset diabetes could be a consequence of underlying pancreatic malignancy. About 30% to 50% of pancreatic cancer patients have new-onset diabetes. Because diabetes develops in preclinical or early stages of pancreatic cancer, it could serve as an excellent clue for early detection of pancreatic cancer. Insulin resistance associated with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia by diabetogenic factors secreted from cancer cells have been suggested to be a possible mechanism of pancreatic cancer-induced diabetes. It is difficult to differentiate pancreatic cancer-induced diabetes from the more common type 2 diabetes. Although several clinical features and potential biomarkers have been investigated, optimal strategies and modalities to screen pancreatic cancer among the new-onset diabetes have not yet been fully determined.
Adiponectin/metabolism ; Age Factors ; Body Mass Index ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation (XGI) is a rare, idiopathic process in which lipid-laden histiocytes are deposited at various locations in the body. Although XGI has been reported to occur in various organs such as the gallbladder, kidney, bone, stomach, colon, appendix, lymph nodes, urachus, and urinary bladder and in soft tissues, xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis (XGP) is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of XGP occurring in a 70-yr-old woman, who presented with abdominal pain for several months. On physical examination, mild epigastric tenderness was noted. Abdomen CT scan revealed a low attenuated mass in uncinate process of pancreas, suggesting malignant lesion. Whipple's operation was performed and the final pathologic diagnosis was XGP. The patient's post-operative course was uneventful, and no recurrence was found within 7 months of the operation. When a pancreatic mass does not show clinico-radiological features typical of common pancreatic neoplasms, XGP should be considered for a differential diagnosis.
Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenum/surgery ; Female ; Granuloma/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Pancreas/surgery ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology ; Pancreatitis/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Xanthomatosis/complications/*diagnosis/pathology

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

OBJECTIVETo compare the findings of pancreaticobiliary duct dilation due to pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).

METHODSMRCP findings in 28 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and 42 cases of chronic pancreatitis were retrospectively analyzed. Both plain MR and MRCP examinations were performed in all the cases after oral Gd-DTPA dilution.

RESULTSMRCP in the patients with pancreatic carcinoma displayed dilated pancreatic duct with smooth and regular caliber (n=16, 72.7%), dilated common biliary duct with abrupt rupture in most cases (n=18, 90%) and intra- and extra-hepatic cholangiectasis (n=12, 42.8%), and the double-duct sign (n=19, 86.5%). In the patients with chronic pancreatitis, MRCP identified irregular dilation of the pancreatic duct across the whole segment of the lesion (n= 20, 60.6%), taper of the dilated common bile duct (n=8, 80%), stones within the pancreatic duct (n=5, 11.9%), and pancreatic pseudocsyt within the pancreatic duct (n=21, 50%).

CONCLUSIONCholangiopancreatographic findings of pancreaticobiliary duct dilation are of great value in distinguishing pancreatic carcinoma from chronic pancreatitis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; methods ; Chronic Disease ; Common Bile Duct ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Ducts ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are several methods for obtaining tissue samples to diagnose malignant biliary strictures during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, each method has only limited sensitivity. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a combined triple-tissue sampling (TTS) method (on-site bile aspiration cytology, brush cytology, and forceps biopsy). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 168 patients with suspicious malignant biliary strictures who underwent double-tissue sampling (DTS; n=121) or TTS (n=47) via ERCP at our institution from 2004 to 2011. RESULTS: Among the 168 patients reviewed, 117 patients (69.6%) were eventually diagnosed with malignancies. The diagnostic sensitivity for cancer was significantly higher in the TTS group than the DTS group (85.0% vs 64.9%, respectively; p=0.022). Furthermore, the combination of brush cytology and forceps biopsy was superior to the other method combinations in the DTS group. With respect to cancer type (cholangiocarcinoma vs noncholangiocarcinoma), interestingly, the diagnostic sensitivity was higher for cholangiocarcinoma in the TTS group than the DTS group (100% vs 69.4%, respectively; p<0.001) but not for the non-cholangiocarcinoma patients (57.1% vs 57.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: TTS can provide an improved diagnostic accuracy in suspicious malignant biliary strictures, particularly for cholangiocarcinoma.
Aged ; Ampulla of Vater/*pathology ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/*pathology ; Biopsy/*methods ; Biopsy, Needle ; Carcinoma/complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/*methods ; Cholestasis/etiology ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare neoplasm of endothelial origin. The clinical manifestations are nonspecific, ranging from complete absence of symptoms to hepatic failure and death. Spontaneous rupture of a hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is an extremely rare presentation. We present a case of primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in a 65-year-old male patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. He was hospitalized due to epigastric pain and multiple liver masses on abdominal ultrasound. Dynamic liver CT imaging revealed multiple peripheral nodular enhanced mass lesions with delayed centripetal enhancement, and the adjacent collection of high-attenuation fluid along the liver capsule. Abdominal tapping revealed blood in the peritoneal cavity. Primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma with spontaneous rupture was finally diagnosed based on a histopathologic examination revealing positive immunohistochemical staining for CD34.
Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis/secondary ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis/secondary ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract availble.
Duodenoscopy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), which is characterized by multiple hamartomatous polyps of the gastrointestinal tract and mucocutaneous pigmentation, is a rare autosomal dominant disease. This syndrome is often represented as a surgical emergency with complications of the polyps such as intussusception, small bowel obstruction, bleeding, and volvulus. In particular, many studies have reported that patients with this syndrome have a high risk of gastrointestinal or extragastrointestinal malignancy including gastric, duodenal, jejunal, ileal, and colonic carcinoma as well as malignancies involving other organs such as the gallbladder, biliary tract, pancreas, tonsils, breast, and reproductive system. However, there are few reported cases of an association of this syndrome with extraintestinal malignancy. In addition to that, there is no reported case of this syndrome with malignant tumor or intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of pancreas in Korea. We experienced a case of PJS accompanying intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma of the pancreas, therefore we report this case with literatures reviewed.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/*diagnosis/pathology/secondary ; Carcinoma, Papillary/*diagnosis/pathology/secondary ; Humans ; Intussusception/surgery ; Jejunum/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome/complications/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed