A resected perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) of the pancreas diagnosed using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration

Intern Med. 2013;52(18):2061-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.52.0746.

Abstract

Primary perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) of the pancreas are extremely rare. We herein report our experience with a patient who had a primary PEComa of the pancreas that was diagnosed by the preoperative histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). The patient was a 43-year-old woman whose chief complaint was abdominal pain. Imaging studies revealed a pancreatic tumor. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), solid pseudopapillary tumor and neuroendocrine tumor were considered in the differential diagnosis. A histopathological examination of a specimen of the tumor obtained using EUS-FNA showed spindle-shaped tumor cells with enlarged nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm. The tumor cells proliferated in a sheet-like fashion and stained positive for the melanoma-associated antigen HMB-45. A PEComa was thus diagnosed. If an adequate tumor specimen can be obtained using EUS-FNA, immunostaining may facilitate the diagnosis of extremely rare diseases and therefore assist in deciding the treatment policy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angiography
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Melanoma-Specific Antigens / metabolism
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / diagnosis
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • gp100 Melanoma Antigen

Substances

  • Melanoma-Specific Antigens
  • PMEL protein, human
  • gp100 Melanoma Antigen