LYMPHOEPITHELIAL CYST- A RARE NON-MALIGNANT CYSTIC LESION OF PANCREAS

Abstract

Lymphoepithelial cysts are rare pancreatic
lesions of undetermined pathogenesis.
The literature on this entity is limited
to case reports or small series. We describe
a case of 33 year female, with incisional
hernia incidentally diagnosed to
have cystic lesion in tail of the pancreas
that was managed by distal pancreatectomy.
An extensive Medline search was
carried out for lymphoepithelial cyst of
pancreas. Till date less than 100 cases
were identified in available literature.
This entity has uniform and distinctive
clinicopathological features. About half of
the reported cases were asymptomatic
with most of the lesions diagnosed incidentally.
Majority of patients presents
with non-specific symptoms making preoperative
diagnosis difficult. Lymphoepithelial
cyst of the pancreas is a rare benign
lesion, which is difficult to diagnose
preoperatively. High index of suspicion
and preoperative fine needle
aspiration cytology may help in making diagnosis
and avoiding surgery in asymptomatic
patients.