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Q: pancreas lipoma
asked by: mitchmom on October 14th, 2009
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I am a 47yr old female who was diagnosed with pancreatic lipoma 8cm about 2 yrs ago. I have had 2 upper endoscopies, one with an ultrasound. The physician did not take a biopsy as he did not want me to get pancreatitis. I am just wondering if I am just to leave it there or stay this way. He suggests we just watch but anything with the pacreas worries me...
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Dr. Robert Wascher , MD
replied on October 14th, 2009
Without access to your medical records and imaging studies, I cannot make any specific reccommendations. However, if all of your imaging exams are consistent with a benign lipoma, and there is no enlargement or changes in enhancement of this mass over a period of 1 to 2 years, then it may be reasonable to follow this lesion with serial MRI scans (to avoid the high dose of radiation associated with multiple serial CT scans). Having said this, I am concened about the clinical diagnosis of an "8 cm lipoma" in the area of your pancreas, as these findings (e.g., the size and location of this mass) do raise the possibility of more concerning possibilities, including a well-differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Depending upon whether the mass is in the right side of your pancreas or the left side, endoscopic ultrasound-(EUS)-guided fine needle biopsy vs. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of this mass is probably appropriate in your case. (You might wish to seek a second opinion....)


Sincerely/ Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

http://doctorwascher.com






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