[Pancreatic panniculitis with intraductal carcinoid tumor of the pancreas divisum]

Abstract

Background: The association of pancreatic diseases with panniculitis are rare. Various pancreatic diseases are described with panniculitis of which most frequent are pancreatitis and acinar cell carcinoma. We report a case of an acute nodular panniculitis whose etiologic assessment allow of discover an intraductal carcinoid tumour on a pancreas divisum.

Case report: A 45 year-old woman without notable medico-surgical history had suddenly presented with multiple cutaneous erythematous nodules on the legs associated with moderates arthralgia in the wrists and the ankles. There were no other clinical manifestations. Results of laboratory tests and chest X-ray were normal. Histologic exploration showed a centrolobular fat necrosis and suggestive pancreatic disease was confirmed by an increase in serum pancreatic enzymes. Ultrasound study and computerized tomography of the abdomen was without notable anomaly. Endoscopic ultrasound study of the pancreas and magnetic resonance imaging showed moderate distention of the pancreatic duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography highlighted a small tumor in the accessory duct orifice of the pancreas divisum. Immunohistological study of tumor's biopsy showed a carcinoid tumor.

Discussion: To our knowledge, this observation describes the first case of nodular panniculitis associated with carcinoid tumor of the pancreas. The detection of this tumor at an early stage, revealed by cutaneous fat necrosis, is probably due to the unusual anatomic site, on the accessory papilla of the pancreas divisum.