Epidermoid cyst arising from an intrapancreatic accessory spleen: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

We describe an epidermoid cyst arising from an accessory spleen of the pancreas. A 56-year-old female with iron deficiency anemia presented with dizziness. During the clinical workup, a 2X4 cm-sized mass was incidentally detected in the tail of the pancreas in a computed tomography (CT) scan. Under a clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cystic malignant tumor, a distal pancreatectomy was carried out. Grossly, the lesion was composed of a solid and cystic portion. Microscopic analysis revealed that the solid portion was an intrapancreatic accessory spleen and the cystic portion was an epidermoid cyst. An epidermoid cyst in an intrapancreatic accessory spleen is extremely rare and hence difficult to diagnose pre-operatively. Taking into account the possibility of such a cyst in the differential diagnosis of intrapancreatic cystic lesion is recommended.