A new case report has been published in Volume 13. oncology scienceFebruary 7, 2026, titled “Massive calcified solid pseudopapillary tumor of the head of the pancreas.”
The report, led by corresponding author Faten Rimayem and co-author Mohamed Hajri of the Mongui Slim La Marsa Hospital in La Marsa, Tunisia, describes a 31-year-old woman who presented with progressive right upper quadrant pain and was found to have a solid, cystic, abnormally coarse, and very large (approximately 12.5 x 9 x 8 cm) lobulated pancreatic head mass. calcified components. The patient underwent radial pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), and histology and immunohistochemistry (nuclear β-catenin, CD10 positive) confirmed the diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPN).
“Complete surgical resection remains the definitive treatment and has an excellent prognosis, even in cases of large calcification.”
Imaging studies (contrast-enhanced CT and MRI) showed a well-encapsulated, heterogeneous mass adjacent to but not invading adjacent organs and major blood vessels. Tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9) were within normal limits. Gross pathology revealed cystic degeneration, hemorrhage, and coarse calcification. Microscopic examination revealed classic solid and pseudopapillary structures with low mitotic activity. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no recurrence at 5-month follow-up. These features (large size, heavily calcified, and slowly progressive histology) demonstrate how SPN can mimic other pancreatic neoplasms and why integrated radiological and pathological evaluation is essential.
The authors put this case into context. SPN is rare (approximately less than 3% of exocrine pancreatic tumors), primarily affects young women, and generally has a good prognosis after complete resection. They emphasize that extensive calcification is rare but not a definitive marker of aggressive behavior and should be recognized as part of the SPN spectrum. The report emphasizes that surgical resection is the treatment of choice and recommends multidisciplinary evaluation and long-term follow-up (at least 5 years) to monitor rare cases of recurrence.
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Reference magazines:
Limaiem, F., Hajri, M. (2026). Huge calcified solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreatic head. oncology science. DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.642. https://www.oncoscience.us/article/642/text/
