Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas: a case of a second neoplasm in a pancreas cancer survivor.

CONTEXT: Cystic neoplasms, which are less common forms of exocrine pancreatic neoplasms, consist of mainly intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) and mucinous cystic neoplasms. Mucinous cystic neoplasms, unlike IPMN, are not associated with ductal growth, are usually multilocular in nature, and have ovarian type stroma. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is a type of mucinous cystic neoplasm more commonly found in women. Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms of the pancreas are the least common variant of IPMN. Despite this classification, intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms have been compared to mucinous cystic neoplasms in previous studies and the classification is still questioned. CASE REPORT: We report a rare case of an intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas occurring in a 52-year-old male with a prior history of surgically excised mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. This is the first known case of an intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm occurring after a prior pancreatic neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: As the diagnosis of intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms are rare, having only a few case reports and small series on which to understand its disease process, it is imperative to discuss each case and detail possible correlations with other pancreatic cystic neoplasms as well as distinctions from its current association within IPMN.

Pseudomelanosis duodeni in a postrenal transplant patient.

Pseudomelanosis duodeni is a rare entity characterised by dark pigmented intracellular granules seen within macrophages that lie within the lamina propria of the duodenal villi. There is no known treatment, and the clinical significance and long-term sequelae of this entity are unclear. We present a case of pseudomelanosis duodeni in a 54-year-old woman who presented with a 1-month history of nausea, vomiting and non-bloody diarrhoea. The medical history was significant for diabetes mellitus type 2, end-stage renal disease status postkidney transplant, hypertension, anaemia of chronic disease and hypothyroidism. A gastroduodenal endoscopy revealed pigmented dark lesions in the duodenal mucosa. Biopsies from the second part of the duodenum and duodenal bulb showed pigmented macrophages in the lamina propria. The findings were consistent with duodenal melanosis. In spite of renal transplant with normalisation of renal function, the duodenal melanosis persists, which raises questions on the role of renal impairment in this entity.

Small cell carcinoma of the oesophagus: a rare cause of dysphagia.

Primary small cell carcinoma of the oesophagus is a rare, highly aggressive malignancy with diagnosis usually occurring at the most advanced stages. We report a case of small cell carcinoma of the oesophagus presenting with dysphagia and melena. A 79-year-old Caucasian man presented to an outside hospital with dizziness, light-headedness, chest pain and melena for 3 days. He had a history of intermittent dysphagia for solids and a 25-pound weight loss in the past 2 months. He underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy that revealed a large polypoid, well-circumscribed friable oesophageal mass causing near complete obstruction of the lumen. This mass extended into the gastric cardia. Oesophageal biopsies were consistent with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. He underwent chemotherapy with subsequent remission and developed recurrence of disease in the oesophagus 2 years later. Overall, the patient has had two recurrences of his disease but has survived for more than 2 years with chemotherapy alone.