Primary squamous cell carcinoma of head of the pancreas

Abstract

Primary pancreatic malignancy with pure squamous cell histology is extremely rare and has aggressive behavior with poor prognosis. The management of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas (SCCP) is poorly defined due to the paucity of data. Preoperative histological diagnosis is difficult in the majority of cases. Curative resection is the main stay of treatment, but most of the cases were found inoperable due to delayed diagnosis and dissemination of the disease at the time of initial diagnosis. Herein, we report a case of primary SCCP in a 44-year-old female located at the head of the pancreas. Her contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan image had the findings of pancreatic head mass along with the features of atrophic pancreatitis. Whipple's procedure was performed successfully for the case with the postoperative pathological staging of PT2N0CM0 and chronic pancreatitis. However, the patient died due to sepsis on the 32nd postoperative day. The presence of atrophic pancreatitis on CECT scan and postoperative pathological findings of chronic pancreatitis suggested the development of squamous metaplasia followed by subsequent development of SCCP.