Four children with solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas are reported. Three were girls. Mean age at operation was 12 years and 7 months (10-13 years). Clinical presentation included nausea, vomiting, and apalpable mass. One had hemoperitoneum due to tumor rupture. In two cases, tumors were in the body of the pancreas, and one the body and tail, and in one,the tail. Mean diameter of the tumors was 10.8 cm (8-15cm). Surgical procedures were distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in 2 cases, distal pancreatectomy in one, and subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in one. Mean follow-up period was 61 months (6-121 months). Three patients are still alive without any recurrence. However, in the one case of ruptured tumor, portal vein thrombosis and liver metastasis developed after subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy during the course of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN) of the pancreas is a rare tumor with low malignant potentiality that usually occurs in young females. Preoperative evaluation, especially radiologic tests, including ultrasonography and CT scan, is helpful in the diagnosis. These studies demonstrate a well-demarcated large mass with solid and cystic portions, frequently in the tail or body of the pancreas. Complete resection is usually curative, however local invasion and/or metastasis may occur. The authors report a case of a solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreatic body in a 14-year old child at St. Benedict Hospital and review the literature.

Six children with solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas were studied retrospectively. There were 2 boys and 4 girls. The mean age at operation was 11 years(range; 8-13years). Three patients had incidental abdominal mass, in two patients the mass was non-tender, in one patient the mass was tender. The minimum size of tumor was 6.5 × 6.0 cm and the maximum was 10.5 × 8.0 cm. Five tumors were located in the head of the pancreas, and the other one in the tail. Local invasion or metastasis was not noticed. Tumors were removed completely by performing the following operations: 3 pylorous preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, 2 Whipple's operation and 1 distal pancreatectomy. There was no mortality. The histologic findings were characteristic. There were no recurrences during a follow-up of 0.5 to 12 years (mean; 5.0 years).