Frantz's tumor: is mutilating surgery always justified in young patients?

摘要

BACKGROUND: Solid pseudopapillary tumor (Frantz's tumor) of the pancreas is a rare lesion. It is of low-grade malignancy but can cause extensive local invasion. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of Frantz's tumors after incomplete resection. METHODS: We contacted all authors who published case reports describing incomplete resection of Frantz's tumor between 1985 and 2008 to request follow-up information. RESULTS: Follow-up information was obtained for 11 out 18 patients who underwent incomplete resection. Estimated median survival rate was 5.7 years (69.5 months). CONCLUSION: Since Frantz's tumor typically develops mainly in children and young women, a 5.7 year survival rate is unacceptable. Thus complete resection of locally invasive solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is always justified, even at the price of difficult, mutilating surgery.