Intra-pancreatic Accessory Spleen Mimicking Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor on 68-Ga-Dotatate PET/CT

Arch Iran Med. 2016 Nov;19(11):816-819.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors, but the incidence is increasing with new diagnostics. A 37-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for an incidental 17-mm nodule in the tail of the pancreas. PET/CT shows indeterminate mass in the pancreatic tail with enhanced uptake of 68-Ga-dotatate. NET was suspected and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed an accessory spleen with a heterotopic location. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) case in which the positive 68-Ga-dotatate uptake reported in the literature. Our case showed that IPAS is one of the reasons of false positive involvement of 68-Ga-dotatate PET/CT. When PET/CT shows an indeterminate mass in the pancreatic tail with enhanced uptake of 68-Ga-dotatate, surgeons should keep IPAS in their mind for differential diagnosis to avoid false treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Choristoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Choristoma / pathology
  • Choristoma / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / diagnosis
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Pancreatectomy
  • Pancreatic Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pancreatic Diseases / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Spleen*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Organometallic Compounds
  • gallium Ga 68 dotatate