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Cancers Apr 2023The most common tumour of the pancreas is ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). It remains one of the most lethal non-neuroendocrine solid tumours despite the use of a... (Review)
Review
The most common tumour of the pancreas is ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). It remains one of the most lethal non-neuroendocrine solid tumours despite the use of a multi-approach strategy. Other, less-common neoplasms, which are responsible for 15% of pancreatic lesions, differ in treatment and prognosis. Due to the low incidence rate, there is a lack of information about the rarest pancreatic tumours. In this review, we described six rare pancreatic tumours: intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), mucinous cystadenoma (MCN), serous cystic neoplasm (SCN), acinar cell carcinoma (ACC), solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) and pancreatoblastoma (PB). We distinguished their epidemiology, clinical and gross features, covered the newest reports about courses of treatment and systematised differential diagnoses. Although the most common pancreatic tumour, PDAC, has the highest malignant potential, it is still essential to properly classify and differentiate less-common lesions. It is vital to continue the search for new biomarkers, genetic mutations and the development of more specific biochemical tests for determining malignancy in rare pancreatic neoplasms.
PubMed: 37190144
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082216 -
Pathologica Sep 2020Pancreatic malignant exocrine tumors represent the most important cause of cancer-related death for pancreatic neoplasms. The most common tumor type in this category is... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic malignant exocrine tumors represent the most important cause of cancer-related death for pancreatic neoplasms. The most common tumor type in this category is represented by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), an ill defined, stroma-rich, scirrhous neoplasm with glandular differentiation. Here we present the relevant characteristics of the most important PDAC variants, namely adenosquamous carcinoma, colloid carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells, signet ring carcinoma, medullary carcinoma and hepatoid carcinoma. The other categories of malignant exocrine tumors, characterized by fleshy, stroma-poor, circumscribed neoplasms, include acinar cell carcinoma (pure and mixed), pancreatoblastoma, and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms. The most important macroscopic, histologic, immunohistochemical and molecular hallmarks of all these tumors, highlighting their key diagnostic/pathological features are presented. Lastly, standardized indications regarding gross sampling and how to compile a formal pathology report for pancreatic malignant exocrine tumors will be provided.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Humans; Pancreas; Pancreas, Exocrine; Pancreatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 33179623
DOI: 10.32074/1591-951X-167 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Aug 2021The presence of pancreatic cancer during childhood is extremely rare, and physicians may be tempted to overlook this diagnosis based on age criteria. However, there are... (Review)
Review
The presence of pancreatic cancer during childhood is extremely rare, and physicians may be tempted to overlook this diagnosis based on age criteria. However, there are primary malignant pancreatic tumors encountered in pediatric patients, such as pancreatoblastoma, and tumors considered benign in general but may present a malignant potential, such as the solid pseudo-papillary tumor, insulinoma, gastrinoma, and vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting tumor. Their early diagnosis and management are of paramount importance since the survival rates tend to differ for various types of these conditions. Many pediatric cancers may present pancreatic metastases, such as renal cell carcinoma, which may evolve with pancreatic metastatic disease even after two or more decades. Several childhood diseases may create a predisposition for the development of pancreatic cancer during adulthood; hence, there is a need for extensive screening strategies and complex programs to facilitate the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. Nevertheless, genetic studies highlight the fact the specific gene mutations and family aggregations may be correlated with a special predisposition towards pancreatic cancer. This review aims to report the main pancreatic cancers diagnosed during childhood, the most important childhood diseases predisposing to the development of pancreatic malignancies, and the gene mutations associates with pancreatic malignant tumors.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Insulinoma; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Survival Rate
PubMed: 34539135
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i32.5322 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jul 2021Adult pancreatoblastoma is an exceptionally rare malignant tumour of the pancreas that mimics other solid cellular neoplasms of the pancreas, which may pose diagnostic... (Review)
Review
Adult pancreatoblastoma is an exceptionally rare malignant tumour of the pancreas that mimics other solid cellular neoplasms of the pancreas, which may pose diagnostic difficulties. Because of its rarity, little is known about its clinical and pathologic features. This article reviews the clinical and pathologic features of pancreatoblastoma in adults including differential diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Although pancreatoblastoma commonly occurs in childhood, there have now been more than 70 adult pancreatoblastomas described in the literature. There is a slight male predominance. There are no symptoms unique to pancreatoblastomas and adult patients are frequently symptomatic. The most common presenting symptom is abdominal pain. Grossly, the tumours are often large and well-circumscribed. Microscopically, pancreatoblastomas are composed of neoplastic cells with predominantly acinar differentiation and characteristic squamoid nests. These tumours are positive for trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, and BCL10. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 11p is the most common molecular alteration in pancreatoblastomas. Adult pancreatoblastomas are aggressive tumours with frequent local invasion, recurrence, and distant metastasis. Treatment consists of surgical resection. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may have a role in the treatment of recurrent, residual, unresectable, and metastatic disease. It is important to distinguish pancreatoblastomas from morphological mimics such as acinar cell carcinomas, solid pseudopapillary neoplasms, and pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Topics: Adult; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell; Humans; Male; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 34326617
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i26.4172 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2020The objective of this study was to illustrate the clinical, CT, MRI, and F-FDG PET/CT features of adult pancreatoblastoma, an extremely rare disease. In this study, the...
The objective of this study was to illustrate the clinical, CT, MRI, and F-FDG PET/CT features of adult pancreatoblastoma, an extremely rare disease. In this study, the clinical and imaging features of seven adult patients with pathologically confirmed pancreatoblastoma were retrospectively analyzed. The following parameters were evaluated: size, location, shape, margination, solid-cystic ratio, CT attenuation values or signal intensity and contrast enhancement pattern. We also analyzed whether abnormal FDG uptake occurred during F-FDG PET/CT imaging. All seven patients were male (mean age 45 years; range 22-65 years). Six tumors were irregular in shape, exogenous, and grew outward from the pancreatic parenchyma, similar to branches growing from a tree trunk (85.7%). The tumor margins were clear in five patients (71.4%), and three tumors (42.9%) were encapsulated. Six tumors (71.4%) were solid, with homogeneous enhancement observed on contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. Dynamic-enhanced CT and MRI showed progressive enhancement for all tumors. On F-FDG PET/CT, one tumor exhibited abnormal FDG uptake, and two tumors exhibited no abnormal uptake (66.7%). In conclusion, adult pancreatoblastoma most commonly occurs in male patients, and it usually appears as an exophytic, irregular, and hypovascular mass with well-defined margins and progressive enhancement on CT and MRI. This type of tumor always grows out of the parenchyma of the pancreas, similar to branches growing outward from a tree trunk.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Contrast Media; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Young Adult
PubMed: 32647222
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68083-2 -
Translational Oncology Apr 2022The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and pathological features of pancreatoblastoma (PB) and to obtain better management for patients with relapsed or...
PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and pathological features of pancreatoblastoma (PB) and to obtain better management for patients with relapsed or metastatic disease.
METHODS
Four cases treated in our institution and 59 cases reported previously in the literature from the PubMed biomedical database (2000-2020) were reviewed and analyzed.
RESULTS
Four cases with PB presented with abdominal pain and palpable abdominal masses, with the tumor size ranging from 5.2 to 18 cm in diameter. The invasion of the splenic vein and superior mesenteric artery, duodenum, and lymph nodes were risk factors for PB. Three cases were treated with combination therapy and showed favorable outcomes, while one case was treated with chemotherapy alone due to tumor progression and died of the disease. Squamous corpuscles were revealed in the tumor samples and considered a defining component for histological diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Multidisciplinary diagnosis plays an important role in clinical management. The risk factors should be considered in the therapeutic stratification of PB before surgery.
PubMed: 35180620
DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101359 -
Diagnostic Pathology Jun 2016Histologic characteristics have proven to be very useful for classifying different types of tumors of the pancreas. As a result, the major tumor types in the pancreas... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Histologic characteristics have proven to be very useful for classifying different types of tumors of the pancreas. As a result, the major tumor types in the pancreas have long been classified based on their microscopic appearance.
MAIN BODY
Recent advances in whole exome sequencing, gene expression profiling, and knowledge of tumorigenic pathways have deepened our understanding of the underlying biology of pancreatic neoplasia. These advances have not only confirmed the traditional histologic classification system, but also opened new doors to early diagnosis and targeted treatment.
CONCLUSION
This review discusses the histopathology, genetic and epigenetic alterations and potential treatment targets of the five major malignant pancreatic tumors - pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm, acinar cell carcinoma and pancreatoblastoma.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Eye Diseases, Hereditary; Humans; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Optic Nerve Diseases; Pancreas; Pancreatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 27267993
DOI: 10.1186/s13000-016-0497-z -
Cancer Cytopathology Jul 2022The classification and management of solid pancreatic neoplasms has expanded significantly in recent years because of advances in immunohistochemical markers, molecular... (Review)
Review
The classification and management of solid pancreatic neoplasms has expanded significantly in recent years because of advances in immunohistochemical markers, molecular diagnostics, and therapeutics. Solid pancreatic masses are subdivided into 1) ill-defined, scirrhous, and stroma-rich (ductal adenocarcinoma) and 2) well circumscribed, cellular, and stroma-poor (including neuroendocrine neoplasms, acinar cell carcinoma, pancreatoblastoma, and solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm). Definitive diagnosis, particularly of stroma-poor, circumscribed tumors, requires the incorporation of radiologic and cytologic findings, along with the judicious use of (broad, but limited) immunohistochemical panels (pancytokeratin and neuroendocrine [synaptophysin], acinar [trypsin], and solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm [β-catenin] markers), along with unstained slides. Depending on the initial results, immunohistochemical panels should be expanded to include more confirmatory (acinar and neuroendocrine) markers. This ensures that adequate material is available for definitive diagnosis/subclassification and, in some cases, grading, and/or molecular studies, particularly of grade 3 neuroendocrine neoplasms and mixed-lineage tumors. The objective of this review is to expand the understanding of the cytomorphology of solid pancreatic neoplasms using an integrated, multidisciplinary approach in their diagnosis. Knowledge and understanding of recent updates in the classification of solid pancreatic neoplasms ensures that cytopathologists appropriately triage specimens, judiciously use and interpret ancillary studies, and incorporate these results in reporting.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell; Humans; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pancreatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 35594486
DOI: 10.1002/cncy.22597 -
World Journal of Gastrointestinal... Apr 2024Blastomas, characterized by a mixture of mesenchymal, epithelial, and undifferentiated blastematous components, are rare malignant neoplasms originating from precursor... (Review)
Review
Blastomas, characterized by a mixture of mesenchymal, epithelial, and undifferentiated blastematous components, are rare malignant neoplasms originating from precursor blast cells. This review focuses on digestive system blastomas in adult patients, including gastroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, and pancreatoblastoma. Gastroblastoma is a biphasic, epitheliomesenchymal tumor, with only sixteen cases reported to date. In addition to the characteristic histology, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 - glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 gene fusion is typical, although recently novel ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 - c-terminal binding protein 1 and patched 1 - glioma-associated oncogene homolog 2 fusions have been described. Hepatoblastoma is exceptionally rare in adults and can show a variety of histologic patterns which may cause diagnostic difficulty. Pancreatoblastoma, primarily a pediatric tumor, displays acinar differentiation and squamoid nests with other lines of differentiation also present, especially neuroendocrine. Diagnostic approaches for these blastomas include a combination of imaging modalities, histopathological examination, and molecular profiling. The treatment generally involves surgical resection, which may be supplemented by chemotherapy or radiotherapy in some cases. Prognoses vary with gastroblastoma generally showing favorable outcomes post-surgery whereas hepatoblastoma and pancreatoblastoma often have poorer outcomes, particularly in the setting of metastases. This review highlights the complexity of diagnosing and managing these rare adult blastomas as well as the need for ongoing research to better understand their pathogenesis and improve treatment strategies.
PubMed: 38690053
DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v16.i4.1030