Small serotonin-positive pancreatic endocrine tumors caused obstruction of the main pancreatic duct

We report 2 cases of pancreatic endocrine tumors that caused obstruction of the main pancreatic duct(MPD).A 49-year-old asymptomatic man was referred to our institution because dilation of the MPD was revealed by abdominal ultrasonography(US).No tumor was detected by endoscopic ultrasonography,computed tomography(CT),and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).The diameter of the MPD was > 20 mm at the body,and no dilation was noted at the head.Although malignancy was not confirmed through cytology or imaging,pancreatic cancer was strongly suspected.Pancreaticoduo-denectomy was performed.Pathological and immunohistochemical examination revealed a 5 mm × 3 mm serotonin-positive endocrine tumor.Fibrosis was present around the MPD and seemed to cause stricture.A 32-year-old asymptomatic man had elevated serum amylase,and US demonstrated dilation of the MPD.No tumor was detected by CT and MRI.Pancreatic cancer was suspected due to stricture and dilation of the MPD.Pancreatectomy of middle part of pancreas was performed.Pathological and immunohistochemical examination revealed a serotonin-positive endocrine tumor sized 5 mm × 4 mm.We report 2 cases of serotonin-positive pancreatic endocrine tumors that caused stricture of the MPD in spite of the small size of the tumor.

Air in the main pancreatic duct:A case of innocent air

Air in the main pancreatic duct has been reported only rarely and might be associated with either a spontane- ous or a surgically induced alteration of the anatomy of the biliary tract. We report a case of ＂innocent＂ air found incidentally in the main pancreatic duct. To our knowledge, this is only the third such case reported. A 54-year-old woman presented with hemoptysis that had lasted for 3 d. She underwent a chest computed tomography scan, which revealed not only focal bron- chiectasis in the left lower lobe, but also air in the main pancreatic duct and dilatation of the common bile duct. She was managed conservatively for the hemop- blsis and no further problems developed. She had no specific gastrointestinal symptoms and had no history of surgery or medication. Her laboratory parameters were normal. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancrea- tography also demonstrated air in the main pancreatic duct and a dilated common bile duct （CBD）. Duode- noscopy revealed separate biliary and pancreatic ori-rices with patulous openings and some air bubbles ap- pearing in the pancreatic orifice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP） showed the dilated CBD and pancreatic duct with some air bubbles, but no other abnormal lesions. She was discharged with no further problems. Most patients with air in the main pancreatic duct have had a pancreatobiliary disease, or a history of pancreatobiliary disease, pancreatobiliary surgery or sphincterotomy. If the air is innocent, as in our case, ERCP should be performed to evaluate any altered sphincteric function or anatomy such as patu- Ious openings.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas in a young male with main pancreatic duct dilatation: A case report

BACKGROUND Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms(SPNs)are rare tumors of the pancreas.Typically,they occur in young females,often have characteristic imaging features,such as cystic components and calcification,and have few effects on the pancreatic duct.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of epigastric pain.There was only mild tenderness in his upper abdomen,and blood tests showed only a slight increase in alkaline phosphatase.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a 40-mm-diameter,hypovascular mass in the head of the pancreas,and the main pancreatic duct upstream of the mass was severely dilated.Magnetic resonance imaging showed low intensity on T1-weighted images,with high intensity on T2-weighted image in some parts.Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was the primary differential diagnosis.Portal vein infiltration could not be ruled out,so this case was a candidate for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Subsequently,endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was performed,and pathological evaluation and immunostaining suggested a diagnosis of SPN.Thus,pancreatoduodenectomy was performed.One year after the operation,the patient is alive with no recurrence.CONCLUSION Main pancreatic duct dilatation is usually a finding of suspected pancreatic cancer.However,pancreatic duct dilatation can occur in SPN depending on the location and growth speed.Therefore,SPN should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors with pancreatic duct dilatation,and pathological evaluation by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration should be actively performed.

Endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement for inflammatory pancreatic diseases

The role of endoscopic therapy in the management of pancreatic diseases is continuously evolving; at present most pathological conditions of the pancreas are successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography （ERCP） or endoscopic ultrasound （EUS）, or both. Endoscopic placement of stents has played and still plays a major role in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, pseudocysts, pancreas divisum, main pancreatic duct injuries, pancreatic fistulae, complications of acute pancreatitis, recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis, and in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis. These stents are currently routinely placed to reduce intraductal hypertension, bypass obstructing stones, restore lumen patency in cases with dominant, symptomatic strictures, seal main pancreatic duct disruption, drain pseudocysts or fluid collections, treat symptomatic major or minor papilla sphincter stenosis, and prevent procedure-induced acute pancreatitis. The present review aims at updating and discussing techniques, indications, and results of endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the pancreas.

Endoscopic ultrasound in chronic pancreatitis: Where are we now?

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is well suited for assessment of the pancreas due to its high resolution and the proximity of the transducer to the pancreas, avoiding air in the gut. Evaluation of chronic pancreatitis (CP) was an early target for EUS, initially just for diagnosis but later for therapeutic purposes. The diagnosis of CP is still accomplished using the standard scoring based on nine criteria, all considered to be of equal value. For diagnosis of any CP, at least three or four criteria must be fulf illed, but for diagnosis of severe CP at least six criteria are necessary. The Rosemont classif ication, more restrictive, aims to standardize the criteria and assigns different values to different features, but requires further validation. EUS-f ine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is less advisable for diagnosis of diffuse CP due to its potential side effects. Elastography and contrast-enhanced EUS are orientation in differentiating a focal pancreatic mass in a parenchyma with features of CP, but they cannot replace EUS-FNA. The usefulness of EUS-guided celiac block for painful CP is still being debated with regard to the best technique and the indications. EUS-guided drainage of pseudocysts is preferred in non-bulging pseudocysts or in the presence of portal hypertension. EUS-guided drainage of the main pancreatic duct should be reserved for cases in which endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography has failed owing to difficult cannulation of the papilla or diff icult endotherapy. It should be performed only by highly skilled endoscopists, due to the high rate of complications.