Intrapancreatic accessory spleen false positive to 68Ga-Dotatoc: case report and literature review | World Journal of Surgical Oncology | Full Text

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen false positive to 68Ga-Dotatoc: case report and literature review | World Journal of Surgical Oncology | Full Text

World Journal of Surgical Oncology

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen false positive to 68Ga-Dotatoc: case report and literature review

• Francesco Lancellotti, 
• Luca Sacco, 
• Saverio Cerasari, 
• Vittoria Bellato, 
• Simone Cicconi, 
• Antonio Ciardi, 
• Edoardo Maria Muttillo, 
• Tiziana Feola, 
• Roberto Caronna & 
• Piero Chirletti 

World Journal of Surgical Oncologyvolume 17, Article number: 117 (2019) | Download Citation

Abstract

Background

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) is an uncommon finding of pancreatic mass. Differential diagnosis with pancreatic tumor, especially with non-functional neuroendocrine tumor (NF-NET), may be very hard and sometimes it entails unnecessary surgery. A combination of CT scan, MRI, and nuclear medicine can confirm the diagnosis of IPAS. 68-Ga-Dotatoc PET/CT is the gold standard in NET diagnosis and it can allow to distinguish between IPAS and NET.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for an incidental nodule in the tail of the pancreas with focal uptake of 68-Ga-dotatate at PET/CT. NET was suspected and open distal splenopancreatectomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed an IPAS.

Conclusion

This is the second IPAS case in which a positive 68Ga-Dotatoc uptake led to a false diagnosis of pancreatic NET. Here is a proposal of a literature review.