Benign pancreatic tumors: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Benign tumors of the pancreas are extremely rare: according to a number of pathologists, they are detected in 0.001-0.003% of cases. These are lipomas, fibromas, myxomes, chondromas, adenomas, hematomas, lymphangiomas, neurinomas, schwannomas and some others.

The causes and pathogenesis of these tumors, as well as tumors in general, are unknown.

Symptoms largely depend on the location and size of the tumor. Tumors of small and medium size (2-4 cm in diameter), not squeezing the large ducts of the pancreas, especially the tumors of its tail, may be asymptomatic for a long time. In the compression or germination of nerve trunks and located in its thickness and on the back surface of the nerve plexus there are strong, sometimes painful pain. When the main duct is compressed, pain (from the "swelling" of the pancreas) and signs of its exocrine insufficiency also arise. Perhaps the emergence or worsening of an existing pancreatitis. In large tumors, endocrine insufficiency sometimes develops. When the tumor, located in the head of the pancreas, is compressed by the terminal part of the common bile duct, there is an obstacle for the separation of bile, cholestasis, mechanical jaundice.

The diagnosis is established on the basis of ultrasound or CT data, it is much less necessary to resort to other, more complex instrumental diagnostic methods.

Treatment is only surgical.

[1], [2], [3]