Extragastrointestinal stromal tumor arising in the pancreas: a case report with a review of the literature

Abstract

Context: Extragastrointestinal stromal tumors arising in the pancreas are extremely rare. To date, only eight cases have been reported in the literature.

Case report: A 42-year-old female patient presented with gradually increasing abdominal pain of 6-month duration. Computerized tomography scan of the abdomen demonstrated a solid cystic mass in the body and tail of the pancreas. En-block R0 resection of the mass with distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and left hemicolectomy was carried out following a radiological diagnosis of a malignant cystic neoplasm of the pancreas. Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of the lesion were consistent with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Conclusion: Extragastrointestinal stromal tumor of the pancreas, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the more common cystic lesions at this site.