Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

A 75-year-old male with a history of dyslipidemia, no alcohol abuse, acute pericarditis and two pancreatitis episodes 16 and 3 years ago, consulted due to a new pancreatitis episode (amylase 536 IU/l). Abdominal CT and MRI showed irregular, rosary-like dilatation of the duct of Wirsung in the body and tail (Fig. 1). In the pancreatic body-tail, echoendoscopy revealed a 15-mm duct of Wirsung with dilatation of the secondary branches and intramural ductal projections. The duct of Wirsung was punctured, yielding mucin material and ductal-type cells without atypias; amylase 38,858 IU/l, CEA 1,604 IU/l and CA19.9 46,000 IU/l. The colonoscopy findings proved normal. Serum CA19.9 was 43 IU/l. With the diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN), a laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was performed with preservation of the splenic vessels (Fig. 2). The histological study showed an intraductal proliferation affecting the principal duct and secondary branches, with a cylindrical epithelium of intestinal appearance and abundant mucous secretion (Fig. 3). Lacunar mucus accumulations were observed in the pancreatic stroma, without tumour cells. The observed dysplasia proved intense, though without invasive carcinoma (Fig. 3). The surgical margins were free of disease. There has been no evidence of relapse after 18 months of follow-up.