A case of pancreatic cancer leading to diagnosis due to short term recurrence of pancreatitis

Abstract

　 A 50-year-old male with sudden onset of left upper abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital. A diagnosis of idiopathic splenic sub-capsular hemorrhage was made. This lesion was treated conservatively and resolved in a short term. At this time, imaging studies failed to point out a tumor in the pancreas. One month later, the patient was re-admitted for acute pancreatitis and splenic abscess. Contrast enhancement CT and MRI depicted a tumor in the body of the pancreas. A biopsy specimen was obtained by EUS-FNA (Endoscopic ultrasonography-fine needle aspiration) and a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was then made. With a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in the body and tail (cT3N0M0 StageⅡA), distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed. In a case with repetitive pancreatic and its complication in a short term, a set of imaging studies should be made in consideration of concurrent pancreatic cancer.