Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0419-2 (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Pancreatic hamartoma: A case report and literature review.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 02 Sep 2015  
 
Reviewer: Homan  Wai 
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Nice paper with a detailed review of the clinical features, as well as the 
radiographical/surgical/immunohistological features of the tumor.  It was also a nice presentation 
of all the hamartomas reported up to date summarized in a table format.  There are no major 
concerns.  I do have the following suggestions  for consideration : 
I suggest mentioning that the patient did not have any symptoms (abdominal pain, post -prandial 
satiety or pain, malabsorption symptoms)  
Last sentence of the abstract background should read: "The tumor was then diagnosed as a 
pancreatic hamartoma", or  "Given these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a pancreatic 
hamartoma", or "A diagnosis of pancreatic hamartoma was made"  
Just being curious, why do you use the abbreviation of "enhanced CT" in your case presentation 
(ref page 6, line 56 but in your a bstract/background wrote it out as " enhanced computed 
tomography"?  
Fig. 1 -c was not mentioned in the text.  
I would suggest adding the month (diagnosis, follow -up timeline e.g. 21 months to the Figures 1 
and 2.    e.g. Fig. 1 -b (21mo) but the editor may have different opinion.  
Ref page 9, line 50, I would not use the word "Finally".  Suggestions: "Based on the above 
findings, the tumor was..." or "Giving these findings, the tumor was..." of "The final diagnosis of 
the tumor was..."  
Ref page 9, line 53, may consider stating how it was determined that there was no recurrence.  
CT? MRI? EUS?  
Ref page 10, line 31 - instead of "non -aggressive", use "not aggressive"  
Ref page 11, line 8 - suggest "There are only 30 cases of pancreatic hamartoma reported in th e 
English literature to date (ref 4 -21), including the first case reported by Anthony et al. in 1977 
(ref4)"  
Ref page 11, line 30 -31 - it was not clear whether Noltenius had a case series on pancreatic 
hamartomas.  It doesn't seem so, the way I read it so unds like it was a case series on patients with 
alcoholic pancreatitis but the authors suggested relationship between chronic pancreatitis and 
hamartomas by appearance.  It just needs to be a little more clear.   
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 recommend additional statistical review  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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