Coexistence of an endocrine tumour in a serous cystadenoma (microcystic adenoma) of the pancreas, an unusual association

Abstract

A pancreatic endocrine tumour arising within a serous cystadenoma is reported. A 49 year old woman was admitted with a history of epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss of two months duration. She had been diabetic for 12 years. An epigastric mass was palpated in the physical examination, and computed tomography revealed a multiloculated cystic lesion in the pancreas. Pathological examination of the pancreatic tumour revealed the coexistence of a serous cystadenoma and an endocrine tumour. The endocrine tumour, which was located inside the serous cystadenoma, was 1 cm in diameter. The first case of a serous cystadenoma of the pancreas containing a pancreatic endocrine tumour was reported in the literature recently. This paper reports another incidentally found pancreatic endocrine tumour arising within a serous cystadenoma.

Figure 1 A single layer of cuboidal epithelium lines the cysts. The periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction has disappeared after diastase in the cyst epithelium (PAS with diastase).

Figure 2 The periphery of the pancreatic endocrine tumour is surrounded by cyst epithelium (haematoxylin and eosin stained section).