Rare pancreatic tumours in children (other than nesidioblastosis)
The rarity of pancreatic tumours other than nesidioblastosis in children is such that the experience of any one surgeon or institution is small. As a consequence, there is limited information on the appropriate management and outcome of these tumours. For this reason a review was conducted of the experience of a large paediatric surgical institution. During a 23-year period, six patients with pancreatic tumours other than nesidioblastosis were treated at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Despite the varied modes of presentation and surgery undertaken, all six patients with surgery alone, with follow-up from 1 to 18 years. Two of the tumours were malignant; the remaining four being islet cell adenomata. No form of adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy) was used. These rare paediatric tumours appear to have a good prognosis, even when malignant, and respond well to radical surgical ablation. Adjuvant therapy appears to be unnecessary.