A Case of Mucinous Cystic Tumor Clealy Communication with the Main Pancreatic Duct

Nobukazu Watanabe, Kenichi Hakamada*, Shunji Narumi*, Yoshikazu Toyoki*, Eishi Totsuka* and Mutsuo Sasaki*

Department of Surgery Hakuseikai Ichou Hospital, Second Department of Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine*

A-43-year-old woman with abdominal pain and high fever was found in abdominal CT and MRI to have a cystic lesion at the tail of the pancreas. ERCP showed communication between the cyst and the main pancreatic duct. Distal pancreatectomy was conducted under a diagnosis of an intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor or a true cyst. Intraoperative US and a surgical specimen confirmed communication between the cyst and main pancreatic duct as demonstrated pre-operatively. Final histopathological diagnosis was mucinous cystic tumor (MCT). MCT sporadically communicates with the main pancreatic duct, but communication between the cyst and main pancreatic duct is very rare and unique in this case. When we encounter this finding, MCT should thus be included in differential diagnosis.

Key words
mucinous cystic tumor, main pancreatic duct

Reprint requests
Nobukazu Watanabe Department of Surgery, Hakuseikai Ichou Hospital
142-1 Nakahirai-cho, Goshogawara, 037-0066 JAPAN

Accepted
September 22, 2004

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