Pancreatectomies for pancreatic neoplasms in pediatric and adolescent age: A single institution experience

Background There are very few data in the current literature regarding the short- and long-term outcome of surgery for pediatric pancreatic tumors (PPT). No data are available on the impact of pancreatic surgery on the children's growth. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study on a consecutive series of pediatric/adolescent patients who underwent pediatric surgery at Karolinska University Hospital from January 2005 to July 2017. Results Overall 14 pancreatic operations were performed in 13 patients. The median age was 11.4 years (range 3–15). Six pancreaticoduodenectomies (42.8%), 5 distal pancreatectomies (35.7%), and 3 enucleations (21.5%) were performed. The final histology revealed a solid pseudopapillary tumor in 9 cases (69.2%), neuroblastoma in 1 (7.7%), ganglioneuroma in 1 (7.7%), pancreatoblastoma in 1 (7.7%), and insulinoma in 1 (7.7%). Overall, 3 patients developed post-operative complications (23%). There was no peri-operative mortality. All patients are alive after a median follow-up time of 80 months. Exocrine insufficiency was detected post-operatively in 4 patients (30.7%) Endocrine insufficiency requiring insulin treatment developed in one patient (7.7%). No significant impact on growth was detected in any of the patients after pancreatic resection. Conclusions In our series, surgery performed for PPTs seems to be safe and effective. The effect of pancreatic surgery on children's growth does not seem to be significant.