Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm (ITPN) is a rare pancreatic tumor belonging to a newly recognized entity that is coined in the 2010 WHO classification. We present a case of ITPN-associated microinvasive adenocarcinoma that developed in an asymptomatic 78-year-old patient. The tumor demonstrated all the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of ITPN, but it differs from other reported cases of ITPN in molecular analysis, which revealed a somatic mutation in BRAF (c.1799T>A; p.V600E) but no mutation in PIK3CA. Post-operative recurrence was discovered 34 months after tumor resection with negative margins and a 6-month course of adjuvant chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of ITPN with BRAF mutation. This case suggests that an activation of RAS-mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway may play a role in development of some of ITPNs. A possible mechanism of tumor recurrence in ITPN is also discussed. Further case series with molecular study are awaited to delineate the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of ITPN.
A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of epigastric pain. Blood tests showed leukocytosis (8940 cells/mm(3)) and increased serum amylase levels (787 IU/L); an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an enlarged pancreas and peripancreatic fluid collection. On the basis of these findings, he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Hypercalcemia (13.5 mg/dL) and increased levels of parathormone (>3200 pg/dL) were also detected using a high-sensitivity assay; we therefore considered hypercalcemia and primary hyperparathyroidism to be the possible causes of the acute pancreatitis. A (99m)Tc-sestamibi scan showed accumulation of parathyroid tissue in the left mediastinum, and a tumor was noted on the left side of the aortic arch on a thoracic CT scan. Our final diagnosis was acute pancreatitis due to hypercalcemia induced by an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Ectopic parathyroid tumors can thus cause acute pancreatitis, and (99m)Tc-sestamibi and CT scans are useful for their diagnosis and localization.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.