A case of pancreatic serous cystadenoma showing interesting image studies

Abstract

A 57-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of elevated serum CA19-9 and a suspicious pancreatic tumor which was detected by abdominal ultrasonograpy (US). Abdominal US revealed a 1.5×1.5 cm hypoechoic solid tumor with a relatively homogeneous inner part located at the pancreatic head. The tumor circumference was enhanced by abdominal enhancing CT. MRI revealed a high signal area, but the tumor had a low intensity area with a T1 WI, and was non-uniform with a T2 WI. The whole tumor showed a light intensity in MRCP. Angiography of the celiac artery also showed dense accumulation of the contrast medium in the tumor. A pancreatic endocrine tumor was diagnosed and pylorus-preserving pancreaticduodenectomy was preformed after receiving informed consent. Gross inspection of the cut surface of the surgical specimen revealed an encapsulated solid tumor measured 1.5×1.5 cm. Histopathologically, the solid part in the center involved colonies of microscopically small cysts composed of cuboidal cells revealing that it was pancreatic serous cystadenoma.