A Case of Lymphoepithelial Cyst of the Pancreas

Abstract

A 58-year-old man was referred and admitted to our hospital for examination of a pancreatic tail tumor detected at a health examination. The level of serum CA19-9 was elevated to 79.6 U/ml. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a well-defined, heterogeneous cystic tumor. Abdominal CT revealed multilocular cystic tumor at pancreatic tail measuring 8.9cm in diameter and enhancing the septum in the tumor. MRI revealed that the tumor showed low intensity on T1-weighted images, and high intensity with partial low intensity on T2-weighted images. The possibility of the malignant cystic tumor could not be ruled out because of high level of serum CA19-9, and we performed laparoscopic operation. The cut surface of resected specimen showed multilocular cysts that included gruel-like fluid. Histopathological examination showed the cystic wall was lined by squamous epithelium and surrounded by lymphoid tissue. These findings led to a diagnosis of lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas. Serum CA19-9 was normal range postoperatively. Since lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas is relatively rare, we report on this case with some bibliographical comments.