Abstract:
Objective:To retrospectively analyze the typical and atypical imaging features of solidpseudopapillary tumor of pancreas (SPTP) in contrast with pathology. Methods:Multidetector CT (MDCT) and MR imaging (MRI) appearances of 33 cases with SPTP proven by histopathology, including tumor location, shape, size, capsule, cystic degeneration, hemorrhage, calcification and enhancement type, were retrospectively investigated and compared with their pathological findings. The correlation of pathologic demonstrations with the age and gender of patients and the tumor size were statistically evaluated. The differences of MDCT and MRI in displaying tumor capsule, cystic degeneration, hemorrhage, calcification, and enhancement type were statistically analyzed. Results:Among 33 cases of SPTP, there were 17 (51.5%) young (≤40 years old) females, 11 (33.3%) elderly (>40 years old) females and 5 (15.2%) males; there were 26 (78.8%) cases with large tumors (the biggest diameter >3.0 cm), and 7 (21.2%) with small tumors (the biggest diameter ≤3.0 cm). Young patients were more likely to develop cystic degeneration of tumors than elderly patients (P=0.030). The incidence rates of small tumors (P=0.015), false capsule (P=0.025), and cystic degeneration (P=0.002) of tumors in male patients were lower than those in female patients. The incidence rates of cystic degeneration (P=0.001), hemorrhage (P=0.002), and false capsule (P=0.029) in large tumors were higher than those in small tumors. There were no statistical differences between MDCT and MRI in demonstrational abilities of capsule, cystic degeneration and enhancement type. MRI was much superior to locate the hemorrhagic areas in tumors than MDCT (P=0.001), while MDCT was much superior to detect calcifications than MRI (P=0.028). Conclusions:Typical imaging demonstrations are often observed in the young female patients with SPTP, while atypical imaging demonstrations which mostly exhibit solid tumors and the progressive dynamic enhancement pattern from the periphery to the center are mostly observed in the male and elderly (>40 years old) female patients with SPTP.