Surgical outcome and prognosis of pediatric solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients with solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) who underwent pancreatectomy. Methods: Pediatric patients with SPNs who underwent pancreatectomy at our institution between 1995 and 2020 were included in the study. Results: During the period under review, 12 patients underwent pancreatectomy for SPNs (median age: 10 years; range: 6–15 years). The surgical procedures included pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 2; 16.6%), distal pancreatectomy (n = 3; 25%), and enucleation (n = 7; 58.3%). The most common postoperative complication was postoperative pancreatic fistula (n = 6; 50%). Patients who underwent enucleation tended to have higher postoperative complication rates compared with those who underwent other procedures. All patients were alive without recurrence at the end of the study period. Conclusions: SPN is associated with a good prognosis, regardless of the surgical procedure. If surgeons select enucleation for pediatric SPNs, they should bear in mind that it is associated with a higher complication rate.