A case of solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas and malignant mesothelioma

Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer. 2007;38(2-4):71-3. Epub 2008 Oct 18. [Link]

Hu JC, Brookings W, Aldridge MC.

Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Howlands, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 4HQ, UK.

Abstract

Introduction: A 59-year-old man with previous exposure to asbestos presented with dyspnoea and pleuritic chest pain, had a pleural effusion and was treated for pneumonia. His symptom recurred and was found to have an abdominal mass.

Discussion: An abdominal computerised tomogram revealed pancreatic body mass arising. Pleural fluid cytology and a pleural biopsy failed to demonstrate malignancy. The pancreatic tumour was resected by distal pancreatectomy, segmental colectomy and splenectomy. The tumour was a solid pseudopapillary pancreatic tumour (SPT) with a high metastatic potential. The patient deteriorated and a repeat biopsy of the thickened pleura confirmed malignancy which was initially thought to be metastases from the SPT. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed malignant mesothelioma. The patient developed liver metastases and died 2 years from the diagnosis of metastatic disease.