A Case of Non-functioning Islet Cell Tumor with Cystic Lesion

Kazuaki Uchimoto, Yoshiyuki Nakajima, Masayuki Sho, Hiromichi Kanehiro, Michiyoshi Hisanaga, Takao Ohyama, Hiroshige Nakano, Kunio Ichijima*

First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University
*First Department of Pathology, Nara Medical University

A 40-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for detailed examination of a tumor in the body of the pancreas. The image findings showed that the tumor did not invade the splenic artery and vein and there was no lymph-node metastasis. Distal pancreatectomy was performed with preservation of the splenic artery and vein. The tumor size was 2.5×2.5×1.5 cm and showed chiefly cystic and partly solid element. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as a non-functioning islet cell tumor. In general, it is necessary to perform standard pancreatectomy with regional lymph-node dissection because nonfunctioning islet cell tumors of a high rate of malignancy. However it is rare for a tumor less than 3 cm in diameter to have lymph-node metastasis. We may follow up without re-exploration in case of the small tumor histologically diagnosed as non-functioning islet cell tumor.

Key words
non-functioning islet cell tumor, lymph-node metastasis

Reprint requests
Kazuaki Uchimoto First Department of Surgeruy, Nara Medical University
840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, 634-0000 JAPAN

Accepted
March 11, 1998

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