A 19-year-old woman presents with epigastric discomfort. CT shows a well encapsulated 9 cm mass in the pancreatic tail with alternating solid and pseudopapillary areas and haemorrhagic degeneration. Biopsy shows uniform cells with nuclear beta-catenin expression. The most appropriate statement about this tumour is:

• A It is a highly aggressive tumour requiring neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• B Complete surgical excision offers excellent long-term survival ✓
• C It secretes vasoactive intestinal peptide causing watery diarrhoea
• D It arises almost exclusively in elderly men

Explanation

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas classically affects adolescent girls and young women, presents as a large encapsulated body or tail mass, and shows nuclear beta-catenin accumulation. Despite its size, it has low malignant potential, and complete resection cures the vast majority of patients, with 5-year survival exceeding 95 percent. It is non-functional and unrelated to MEN syndromes.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.