Combined endocrine and exocrine tumours of the pancreas

Ahmed Alzaraa*1, Valeri Udom2, Husam Mousa1, Abdulhalem Alzein1,
Abduljalil Benhamida1 and Neha Dalal3
Address: 1Department of General Surgery, Tameside General Hospital, Manchester, UK, 2Department of Radiology, Tameside General Hospital,Manchester, UK and 3Department of Histopathology, Tameside General Hospital, Manchester, UK
Email: Ahmed Alzaraa* – ahmedwahabf@gmail.com; Valeri Udom – vudom52@aol.com; Husam Mousa – hmousa2006@hotmail.co.uk;Abdulhalem Alzein – aelzein73@yahoo.com; Abduljalil Benhamida – abduljalil.benhameda@tgh.nhs.uk; Neha Dalal – neha.dalal@tgh.nhs.uk
* Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Background: Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas comprise 10%–15% of pancreatic cystic lesions,with the serous cystadenoms being the commonest. The association of exocrine and endocrine tumours of the pancreas unrelated to Von Hipple Lindau disease is very rare. Very few cases have been reported in the literature. We present another case of both these tumours in one patient.

Case presentation: A female patient was seen in the surgical clinic for a pain in the right groin.Clinical examination and investigations confirmed a diagnosis of combined endocrine and exocrine tumours of the pancreas. She underwent surgery and is under regular follow-up in the surgical clinic.

Conclusion: Biphasic differentiation of pancreatic stem cell during embryological development could happen and may result in combined endocrine and exocrine tumours of the pancreas. Imaging studies are excellent in diagnosing theses lesions. Surgery has a central role and could be curative.