Cystic teratomas of the pancreas
M. Mester, H. J. Trajber, C. C. Compton, H. S. de Camargo Junior, P. C. de Almeida and H. C. Hoover Jr
Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02214.
Cystic teratomas of the pancreas constitute an extremely rare entity with
only nine cases, to our knowledge, described in the world literature.
Symptoms are usually due to the compressive effects of the tumor on the
neighboring organs. They should be considered in the differential diagnosis
of slow-growing benign pancreatic cysts. We describe a 25-year-old woman
with a pancreatic teratoma who was operated on in 1976 with the diagnosis
of calcified pancreatic cyst. The diagnostic and surgical procedures are
described, as well as a 14-year follow-up. The previously published cases
are reviewed and the differential diagnosis is discussed. Early diagnosis
and the need for total tumor resection are emphasized.
