Anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the pancreas: a pediatric case and literature review.

A 13-year-old boy presented with acute abdominal pain and later became jaundiced. Medical imaging subsequently demonstrated a 7 x 8 cm pancreatic mass. Examination of a biopsy specimen obtained by open laparotomy revealed malignant lymphoma. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and cytogenetics confirmed the diagnosis of ALK1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. He was treated with multiagent chemotherapy and remains in complete remission 12 months off treatment. This is the first case of primary pancreatic ALK1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma described in a child and shows that aggressive surgical resection of pancreatic tumors is not always necessary to achieve a cure.