Solid and papillary neoplasms of the pancreas.

Solid and papillary neoplasms of the pancreas are rare, low-grade malignant tumors histologically distinct from usual ductal adenocarcinomas and islet cell tumors and amendable to cure by surgical excision. Because these lesions have been incorrectly diagnosed in the past as adenocarcinomas or cystadenocarcinomas, they may have contributed to reports with confusing survival statistics following resections for malignant neoplasms of the pancreas. In young women with large, relatively asymptomatic tumors of the pancreas, solid and papillary neoplasms should be high on the list of the differential diagnoses.