Clinical manifestations and multi-slice computed tomography characteristics of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas between males and females

Background Solid-pseudo papillary neoplasms of pancreas (SPNP) are rare in men and are often misdiagnosed. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and multi-slice computer tomography (MSCT) features of patients with SPNP, and examine the differences between males and females. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, the clinical and imaging data of 29 patients with histolopathologically confirmed SPNP (seven males and 22 females) that underwent radical resection, and underwent preoperative MSCT at the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang between August 2010 and December 2018 were collected. All MSCT images were reviewed by two radiologists; disagreements were ruled by a third one. Results The median age of the 29 patients with SPNP was 30 (range, 12-70) years. The male patients were older than the female patients [median, 56 (28-66) vs. 29 (12-70), P = 0.012]. The median tumor size was 3.9 (range, 2.0-6.4) cm in the male SPNP patients, which was significantly lower than the 7.0 (range, 4.6-14.6) cm in the female patients (P < 0.001). The calcification rate of the SPNP was significantly higher in male than in female patients (P = 0.013). The percentage of solid tumor was higher in males than in females (P = 0.036). Capsule, bleeding, and enhancement in the arterial and venous phases were not significantly different between the male and female patients (all P > 0.05). Conclusion The imaging features of male SPNP are distinct from those of female patients. In males with pancreatic lesions, MSCT generally shows relatively small lesions with higher percentages of solid components and calcification, with typical enhancement suggesting SPNP.