Surgical treatment of pancreatic tumors in childhood and adolescence: uncommon neoplasms with favorable outcome.

Background/aims: Pancreatic tumors in children and adolescents are uncommon. The aim of the present paper was to analyze short- and long-term outcomes after surgical treatment of primary pancreatic neoplasms in children and adolescents at a single high-volume center for pancreatic diseases.

Methods: Retrospective review of medical records and pathology reports of patients younger than 18 years who underwent surgery at Verona University Hospital from 1990 through 2010.

Results: The study population consisted of 20 patients. Abdominal pain and palpable mass were the most common presenting symptoms. No patient had a locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic disease. Complete resection (R0) was achieved in 19 patients. There was no postoperative mortality, but postoperative complications occurred in 5 cases (25%). Histological examination showed 12 solid pseudopapillary tumors, 5 neuroendocrine tumors, 2 cystadenomas and 1 epithelial malignant tumor. At a median follow-up of 49.5 months (range: 7-234), there was no tumor recurrence. Postoperative diabetes was diagnosed in 1 patient and 4 other patients developed pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

Conclusion: In the setting of a high-volume surgical center, radical resection of pancreatic tumors in children and adolescents is associated with acceptable postoperative morbidity and favorable long-term outcome.