solid pseudopapillary tumor in a pregnant woman: imaging findings and literature review

A solid pseudopapillary neoplasm is a rare pancreatic tumor accounting for 1–2% of exocrine pancreatic neoplasms. It is usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally. It is mainly seen in young women between the second and third decades of life. Although it usually has a large size at the time of diagnosis, it is considered to have low malignant potential. Solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPTs) have characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that enable it to be differentiated from other more common pancreatic tumors. Here, we report the case of a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to The Royal Hospital, Oman, with a large mass in her pancreas, which was incidentally discovered during abdominal ultrasonography. The mass was investigated further with MRI. The MRI revealed a well-defined mass related to the tail and body of the pancreas with solid and cystic components. It had a heterogeneous texture with fluid levels of different signal intensities due to the presence of blood of different ages. The cystic-solid appearance of an encapsulated lesion with characteristic signal intensity on MRI suggested the possibility of a SPT. Postoperative histopathology results confirmed the diagnosis of a SPT. In this case report, we highlight the MRI features of a SPT and discuss how to differentiate it from other cystic pancreatic tumors to increase the awareness of clinicians to this rare pancreatic tumor.