Should a biopsy be obtained prior to surgery in children with pancreatic
masses? A case report describing the difficult journey of an adolescent
undergoing treatments for a rhabdomyosarcoma of the head of the pancreas
following primary pancreaticoduodenectomy for a suspected solid
pseudopapillary tumor
- Nicolas Prud'homme
, - Gary Galante,
- Harmeet Kaur,
- Marie-Anne Brundler,
- Paul Beaudry,
- Douglas R. Strother
Gary Galante
University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine
Author ProfileHarmeet Kaur
University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine
Author ProfileMarie-Anne Brundler
University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine
Author ProfileAbstract
Pancreaticoduodenectomy, a procedure rarely performed in children, can
lead to significant morbidity. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequent
soft tissue sarcoma in pediatrics. Treatment consists of chemotherapy,
while local control can be achieved through either surgery, radiotherapy
or both. In this brief report, we describe the case of a 15-year-old
adolescent who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy for a presumed solid
pseudopapillary tumor of the head of the pancreas, ultimately diagnosed
as a fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma. We review the ensuing severe side
effects of the treatments, and discuss the role of biopsies for
pancreatic tumors in pediatrics.