Purpose or Case Report: Pancreatic tumors are very rare in the pediatric population, with a reported incidence of 1.8 cases per 1,000,000 children in the United States. Several case reviews in the literature from large referral centers have yielded relatively few cases of pancreatic neoplasm. The most commonly reported pancreatic tumors include solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN), pancreatoblastoma, and neuroendocrine tumors. Other, more commonly encountered pancreatic abnormalities include trauma and pancreatitis. Given their rarity, the imaging characteristics of pancreatic lesions at MRI may be unfamiliar. The purpose of this exhibit is to present the typical imaging appearance of various pancreatic lesions in children.
Methods & Materials: IRB approval was obtained for this pictorial review. Illustrative cases of pancreatic lesions were obtained through review of the radiology information system.
Results: Several illustrative examples of pediatric pancreatic lesions will be highlighted, including cases of primary tumor, metastasis, and tumor-mimickers. Relevant clinical features will be incorporated in this review. Finally, the differential diagnosis of pancreatic lesions based on specific imaging features will be discussed, including cystic lesions, enlargement, atrophy, fatty replacement, and solid masses.
Conclusions: After viewing this presentation, the pediatric radiologist should be more familiar with the MRI appearance of pediatric pancreatic lesions and be able to provide a focused differential diagnosis based on the imaging characteristics.