Case Report: Ectopic pancreas mimicking gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors: diagnostic challenges in two surgically confirmed sibling cases - Summary - MDSpire

Case Report: Ectopic pancreas mimicking gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors: diagnostic challenges in two surgically confirmed sibling cases

  • By

  • Xiaoxia Li

  • Juanxian Gu

  • Xianghua Zhou

  • Liangliang Wang

  • Saiqi Zhang

  • Xiao Huang

  • July 17, 2026

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Objective:

To report two cases of ectopic pancreas in biological sisters and highlight the diagnostic challenges it poses when mimicking gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors.

Approach:
  • Method: label
  • Method: text
Key Findings:
  • Both cases were initially misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) based on imaging, with GIST considered the leading preoperative diagnosis.
  • Histopathological examination confirmed ectopic pancreas in both cases, showing mature pancreatic acini, ducts, and islets.
  • Case 1 showed no recurrence by April 2026, while Case 2 had no obvious symptoms during short-term follow-up.
Interpretation:

Ectopic pancreas can closely mimic GIST and other gastrointestinal tumors, complicating preoperative diagnosis. Histopathological confirmation is essential for accurate diagnosis.

Limitations:
  • The study does not provide evidence for hereditary origin or familial clustering despite the patients being biological sisters.
  • Long-term recurrence and postoperative complications could not be fully assessed due to the short follow-up period.
Conclusion:

Ectopic pancreas can present as tumor-like lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, necessitating careful histopathological evaluation for diagnosis.

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