Autologous stem cell transplantation as first line treatment after incomplete excision of pancreatoblastoma

ABSTRACT

Pancreatoblastoma is a rare tumor and surgery with complete resection is the main treatment approach. Prognosis for patients with residual disease after surgery is usually dismal. A 14-year-old girl with pancreatoblastoma in the pancreatic body and tail was submitted to preoperative chemotherapy. She underwent surgery and the tumor was resected with microscopic margins. Postoperative chemotherapy was followed by high dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. After four years she remains very well with no evidence of disease. This is the first case reported of pancreatoblastoma that was treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as first line treatment without radiotherapy at the site of the microscopic disease.