Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pancreatic hamartoma: A case report and literature review.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 08 Sep 2015  
 
Reviewer: Hideo  Baba  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
A pancreatic hamartoma is a rare benign tumor and difficult to diagnose correctly because of the 
absence of characteristic differential features. In this paper, the authors described the 
clinicopathological features of pancreatic hamartomas.This case of a pancreatic hamartoma, 
which has been observed long -term, is interesting. However, a major revision of manuscript is 
needed before it will be acceptable for BMC Gastroenterology.  
 
Major  
(1) The authors concluded that clinicopathological features of pancreatic hamartomas could be 
"well -demarcated solid and  cystic tumor", "scattered normal acini and varied dilated duct 
size without atypia," "mature adipose tissue and fibrosis," and "chronological morphological 
changes." However, 3 of the features, "well -demarcated solid and cystic tumor," "scattered 
normal a cini and varied dilated duct size without atypia" and "mature adipose tissue and 
fibrosis" have already been described in previous reports (Kawakami F, World J Gastrointest 
Oncol.2012; Inoue H, Endoscopy. 2014). I consider it controversial to call "chronol ogical 
morphological changes" a feature of pancreatic hamartomas on the base of only two cases 
(present case and reference 15). The authors should review other case reports in regard to 
possible "chronological morphological changes"  
(2) The authors should,  if possible, describe the differential point between pancreatic hamartoma 
and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).  
 
Minor  
Fig. 2 -g: It is better to have the arrow point to the tumor.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not , please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the man uscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or s hares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None  
 
I agree to the open peer r eview policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included a s confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pancreatic hamartoma: A case report and literature review.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 08 Sep 2015  
 
Reviewer: Hideo  Baba  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
A pancreatic hamartoma is a rare benign tumor and difficult to diagnose correctly because of the 
absence of characteristic differential features. In this paper, the authors described the 
clinicopathological features of pancreatic hamartomas.This case of a pancreatic hamartoma, 
which has been observed long -term, is interesting. However, a major revision of manuscript is 
needed before it will be acceptable for BMC Gastroenterology.  
 
Major  
(1) The authors concluded that clinicopathological features of pancreatic hamartomas could be 
"well -demarcated solid and  cystic tumor", "scattered normal acini and varied dilated duct 
size without atypia," "mature adipose tissue and fibrosis," and "chronological morphological 
changes." However, 3 of the features, "well -demarcated solid and cystic tumor," "scattered 
normal a cini and varied dilated duct size without atypia" and "mature adipose tissue and 
fibrosis" have already been described in previous reports (Kawakami F, World J Gastrointest 
Oncol.2012; Inoue H, Endoscopy. 2014). I consider it controversial to call "chronol ogical 
morphological changes" a feature of pancreatic hamartomas on the base of only two cases 
(present case and reference 15). The authors should review other case reports in regard to 
possible "chronological morphological changes"  
(2) The authors should,  if possible, describe the differential point between pancreatic hamartoma 
and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).  
 
Minor  
Fig. 2 -g: It is better to have the arrow point to the tumor.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not , please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the man uscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or s hares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None  
 
I agree to the open peer r eview policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included a s confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pancreatic hamartoma: A case report and literature review.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 08 Sep 2015  
 
Reviewer: Hideo  Baba  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
A pancreatic hamartoma is a rare benign tumor and difficult to diagnose correctly because of the 
absence of characteristic differential features. In this paper, the authors described the 
clinicopathological features of pancreatic hamartomas.This case of a pancreatic hamartoma, 
which has been observed long -term, is interesting. However, a major revision of manuscript is 
needed before it will be acceptable for BMC Gastroenterology.  
 
Major  
(1) The authors concluded that clinicopathological features of pancreatic hamartomas could be 
"well -demarcated solid and  cystic tumor", "scattered normal acini and varied dilated duct 
size without atypia," "mature adipose tissue and fibrosis," and "chronological morphological 
changes." However, 3 of the features, "well -demarcated solid and cystic tumor," "scattered 
normal a cini and varied dilated duct size without atypia" and "mature adipose tissue and 
fibrosis" have already been described in previous reports (Kawakami F, World J Gastrointest 
Oncol.2012; Inoue H, Endoscopy. 2014). I consider it controversial to call "chronol ogical 
morphological changes" a feature of pancreatic hamartomas on the base of only two cases 
(present case and reference 15). The authors should review other case reports in regard to 
possible "chronological morphological changes"  
(2) The authors should,  if possible, describe the differential point between pancreatic hamartoma 
and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN).  
 
Minor  
Fig. 2 -g: It is better to have the arrow point to the tumor.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not , please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the man uscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or s hares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None  
 
I agree to the open peer r eview policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included a s confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant