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

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare inflammatory disease of the gallbladder. Not only does XGC occasionally present as a mass formation with adjacent organ invasion like a malignant neoplasm, it can also infrequently be associated with gallbladder cancer. In the situation, it is difficult to make a differential diagnosis between the diseases. Here, we describe a case of a simultaneous XGC and a carcinoma of the gallbladder in a 61-year-old woman. To the best of our knowledge, there are only a small number of reports on this combination of diseases.
Adenocarcinoma/complications/diagnosis/*pathology/surgery ; Biopsy, Needle ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystitis/complications/diagnosis/*pathology/surgery ; Endosonography ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/*pathology/surgery ; Granuloma/complications/diagnosis/*pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Risk Assessment ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Xanthomatosis/complications/diagnosis/*pathology