Introduction: Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas are rare and their origin is unknown. The aim of this work was to report five new cases.
Material and methods: Retrospective study of data from patients operated on from 1983 to 2002 in a university hospital specialized in pancreatic surgery. Patients were identified in a prospectively constituted database of pathologic examinations.
Results: Five patients (three men and two women, aged from 15 to 69 years) underwent pancreatectomy for a solid pseudopapillary tumor, which was discovered fortuitously by imaging in three cases. Tumor diameter ranged from 4 to 15 cm. Diagnosis was made preoperatively in only one patient. There were three pancreaticoduodenectomies and two left pancreatectomies, with extension to the transverse colon due to vascular reasons in two cases. Only one significant complication occurred (one colonic fistula). With a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 6 years, all patients are alive without recurrence.
Conclusions: Solid pseudopapillary tumors are not exceptional in men. Complete resection can need extension to neighboring organs but allows good long-term survival.