J Korean Assoc Pediatr Surg.  2007 Dec;13(2):155-161.

Clinical Experiences of Pancreatic Tumors in Children

• Im RJ
• Kim HS
• Kim TS
• Lee CG
• Seo JM
• Lee SK

Abstract

Pancreatic tumors in children are very rare but have a better prognosis compared with that in adult. Pediatric pancreatic tumors are more often benign and easier to resect. To evaluate the characteristics and prognosis, the records of 13 patients who underwent pancreatic resection, from June 1997 to May 2005, at Samsung Medical Center were reviewed. The mean follow up period was 48 months. The male to female ratio was 1: 1.6. Mean age was 10.3 years. Signs and symptoms included abdominal pain (7), abdominal palpable mass (5), jaundice (1), hypoglycemic (1), and non-specific GI symptoms (4). The commonly used diagnostic tools were CT and abdominal sonography. In addition, MRI, ERCP, EEG, and hormone test were also done when indicated. Surgical procedures included distal pancreatectomy (5), pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (4), tumor excision (3), and subtotal pancreatectomy (1). Locations of lesions in pancreas were head (4), tail (5), and body and tail (4). Postoperative complications developed in 3 cases; postoperative ileus (1), wound problem (1), and pancreatitis (1). The pathologic diagnosis included solid-pseudopapillary tumor (6), congenital simple cyst (1), pancreatic duplication cyst (1), serous oligocystic adenoma (1), mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (1), rhabdomyosarcoma (1), insulinoma (1), and pancreatoblastoma (1). Three cases received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Overall survival rate was 81%. One patient with a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma died. In this study, pancreatic tumors in children were resectable in all patients and had good survival. Surgery of pancreatic tumors should be regarded as the gold standard of treatment and a good prognosis can be anticipated in most cases of benign and malignant tumors.

Keyword

Pancreatic tumor; Children; Pancreatic resection

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adenoma
Adult
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Child*
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous
Diagnosis
Electroencephalography
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Head
Humans
Ileus
Insulinoma
Jaundice
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Pancreas
Pancreatectomy
Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Pancreatitis
Postoperative Complications
Prognosis
Pylorus
Radiotherapy
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Survival Rate
Wounds and Injuries