[Heterotopic cystic pancreas as a growing submucous tumor close to the cardia of the stomach].

Ectopic pancreas, presenting as a growing submucosal tumor, is a rarity in stomach surgery. Up to now, only about 250 cases of ectopic pancreas have been described. To our knowledge this is the first report of ectopic pancreas found near the cardia. A 52 year old female patient suffered from unclear upper abdominal distress. Gastroscopy revealed a submucosal growing tumor near the cardia. The tumor was locally exceeded and histologically examined showing ectopic, cystic pancreatic tissue without signs of malignancy. Wound healing was without complications and the patient is now, two years later, free of symptoms. The preoperative diagnosis of ectopic pancreas still is rarely conclusive. Nevertheless, new techniques such as endoscopic sonography or transmucosal biopsies may provide a non-invasive alternative to surgery. However, currently, local excision with intraoperative frozen section still is the therapy of choice.