Lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas

CONCLUSION.Lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas (LC) is a very rare benign lesion and preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Conservative surgery seems to be the appropriate therapy in symptomatic patients or when a precise preoperative diagnosis is not achieved. The benign behavior of all reported cases suggests that the asymptomatic patients with a certain morphological preoperative diagnosis might be clinically followed up. The histogenesis of LC remains to be elucidated. BACKGROUND. LC of the pancreas is a cyst that is histologically characterized by a fibrous tissue, a lymphoid component and a lining squamous epithelium. METHODS. Clinical and pathological findings of two personal cases are reported with review of the literature. RESULTS. A 56-yr-old man, complaining of epigastric pain, and a 47-yr-old man, with a history of alcohol abuse, were admitted to hospital. In both cases the lesion was detected with abdominal ultrasound but a certain diagnosis was obtained only after histological examination of the resected cysts.