Description
Specimen is a subtotal pancreatectomy and spleen. The spleen is of normal size. The 3 linear
incisions through the splenic capsule are to facilitate fixation. The pancreas has been sectioned
longitudinally and has a nodular consistency with multiple areas of necrosis. There is associated
haemorrhage into the pancreatic substance and there is also marked dilatation of the pancreatic
ducts.
History
The patient had multiple recurrences of acute pancreatitis and underwent laparotomy for
investigation of an abdominal mass. At frozen section no malignancy was found, however subtotal
pancreatectomy was undertaken on the basis of recurrent pancreatitis. The patient re-presented 9
months later with a large central abdominal mass which had infiltrated the liver. This was shown
to be an adenocarcinoma, the pancreas being the most likely primary site. It was therefore assumed
that the tumour had arisen in the residual pancreas. The patient died of metastatic disease 12 months
after pancreatectomy.