A case of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with air in the main pancreatic duct

Abstract

An 82-year-old female patient was being investigated for iron-deficiency anemia. A plain abdominal CT revealed a lesion that was suspected as a mixed pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), with air in the main pancreatic duct (MPD). Abdominal MRI and contrast-enhanced CT showed similar findings, and the tumor was diagnosed as a mixed IPMN with air in the MPD. Reports in the literature of cases of air in the MPD associated with IPMN are rare, and the underlying mechanism remains unknown; however, as previously suggested, papillary sphincter dysfunction appears to be the most likely cause.