Pankreatoblastom
Pancreatoblastomas are rare pediatric tumors of the pancreas. However, they are the most common pancreatic neoplasm of childhood and are often associated with a raised alpha-fetoprotein.
Epidemiology
There is slight male predilection. Usually occurs in the first decade of life with a mean age of 4.5 years .
Pathology
Pancreatoblastomas are solid tumors, flesh-colored on gross pathology. They can occur in any part of the pancreas .
Metastatic lesions in liver and lymphadenopathy have been reported in 35% of cases .
Associations
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
They are usually large, well defined, heterogeneous mass with solid and multilocular cystic areas that contain hyperechoic septae. Dilatation of biliary duct is not common as the tumors themselves are soft, though they are frequently large at presentation .
CT
- usually relatively well defined and heterogeneous due to solid and multilocular cystic components with enhancing septae
- may demonstrate fine calcifications, similar to those seen in neuroblastoma
- most often occurs in the head of the pancreas and tend to be large and solitary, though dilatation of bile duct is uncommon
- hepatic metastases: hypodense
- less frequently, invasion of adjacent structures and the biliary tree may be noted
MRI
- T1: low-intermediate signal intensity
- T2: heterogenous hyperintense
Treatment and prognosis
Has a better prognosis than adult pancreatic adenocarcinoma.