Pancreatic Duct Stricture That Rapidly Progressed to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Formed a Mass within 3 Months: A Case Report

The natural growth rate of pancreatic carcinoma in situ with pancreatic duct stricture remains unclear. Herein, we present a case with pancreatic duct stricture that rapidly grew to form a mass lesion within 3 months. A 74-year-old woman was referred to us for the investigation of a pancreatic duct dilatation. Initial images did not reveal any clear mass lesions near the pancreatic duct stricture. Pancreatic juice cytology showed suspicious findings. Distal pancreatectomy was recommended; however, the patient refused to undergo surgical treatment at that time. Images taken 3 months later demonstrated a nodular pancreatic body mass which was identified as a moderately to poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Previous reports have suggested that pancreatic carcinoma in situ and small pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma require at least 1–2 years to progress to an advanced mass. This case suggests that pancreatic carcinoma in situ may grow rapidly and indicates a need for close follow-up in patients with pancreatic duct strictures, even if the pathological evidence is not confirmed.