World Journal of Surgical Oncology (Jul 2019)

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen false positive to 68Ga-Dotatoc: case report and literature review

  • Francesco Lancellotti,
  • Luca Sacco,
  • Saverio Cerasari,
  • Vittoria Bellato,
  • Simone Cicconi,
  • Antonio Ciardi,
  • Edoardo Maria Muttillo,
  • Tiziana Feola,
  • Roberto Caronna,
  • Piero Chirletti

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-019-1660-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background Intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) is an uncommon finding of pancreatic mass. Differential diagnosis with pancreatic tumor, especially with non-functional neuroendocrine tumor (NF-NET), may be very hard and sometimes it entails unnecessary surgery. A combination of CT scan, MRI, and nuclear medicine can confirm the diagnosis of IPAS. 68-Ga-Dotatoc PET/CT is the gold standard in NET diagnosis and it can allow to distinguish between IPAS and NET. Case presentation A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for an incidental nodule in the tail of the pancreas with focal uptake of 68-Ga-dotatate at PET/CT. NET was suspected and open distal splenopancreatectomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed an IPAS. Conclusion This is the second IPAS case in which a positive 68Ga-Dotatoc uptake led to a false diagnosis of pancreatic NET. Here is a proposal of a literature review.

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