Pancreatic Tumors in Children

Abstract

Objective: Pancreatic rumors in children are exceedingly rare and hence present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to pediatric surgeons. In this study, we aimed to present our experiences and treatment outcomes related to these rare tumors.

Methods: The clinical data, laboratory investigations, radiological imaging, and the pathology and surgical details of patients with pancreatic tumors who were diagnosed between 2005 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: A total of 9 patients (5 men) were included in the study. The most common symptom at the time of presentation was vague abdominal pain. A pancreatic rumor was detected incidentally in 4 patients. All tumors were non-functional primary rumors. Histopathological diagnosis of these tumors were solid-pseudopapillary tumors (n=3), congenital pancreatic cysts (n=3), pancreatoblastoma (n=1), rhabdomyosarcoma (n=1), and an undifferentiated carcinoma (n=1). In addition, 8 patients were treated surgically (through tumor excision, central pancreatectomy + distal pancreaticojejunostomy, distal pancreatectomy, and cystogastrostomy). Two deaths from tumor dissemination were recorded. The patients were followed-up at a mean duration of 72 months (range: 6-120 months).

Conclusion: Pediatric pancreatic tumors arc rare and are usually benign in nature. They present symptoms that are often nonspecific. In non-metastatic cases, surgical tumor removal is the preferred method for the treatment. For most tumors, surgical resection is the optimal treatment that may be successfully performed with low morbidity rate when the lesion is either in the body or in the tail of the pancreas. The long-term outcomes with this approach are generally good.