OBJECTIVE

To present the experience of using laparoscopic surgery for solid pseudopapillary pancreatic tumors in children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the Morozov Children’s City Clinical Hospital from 2012 to 2021 16 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for a solid pseudopapillary pancreatic tumor. In 12 patients the tumor was located in the tail of the pancreas, in 4 patients the tumor was located in the body of the pancreas. 12 laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and 4 central pancreatectomy were performed.

RESULTS

The duration of the operation varied from 80 to 200 minutes (mean value, 95 minutes). In all cases, intraoperative blood loss did not exceed 100 ml and did not require blood transfusion in any case. One patient (6.25%) who underwent laparoscopic central pancreatectomy during surgery was converted to laparotomy. The total period of postoperative hospital stay was 10—14 days (on average, 12 days). The follow-up was followed in all patients in terms of 3 months to 5 years. In all cases, a routine cyclic examination (ultrasound screening, CT with intravenous contrast enhancement) was performed, in which no recurrence of the disease was detected in any case.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic operations in children with solid pseudopapillary tumor in the tail and body of the pancreas are feasible provided that the clinic has sufficient experience in minimally invasive and pancreatic surgery. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy may be the preferred treatment for pseudopapillary solid tumors in children.