A hitherto unrecognized variant of solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is reported. The tumor presented in the pancreatic tail of a 44-year-old female patient. It was a well-defined, solid nodule measuring 25mm in diameter, with homogenous tan gray cut surface. Histologically, the neoplasm was mostly composed of sheets of spindle cells. No cellular atypia and mitosis was identified. The periphery of the tumor showed typical feature of SPT. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, CD10, CD56, beta-catenin, and alpha;1-antichymotrypsin, but negative for cytokeratin, chromogranin, synaptophysin and S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, the tumor showed a few acinar spaces with microvilli between tumor cells. This case is peculiar in that the tumor did not show gross cystic change and predominantly consists of spindle shaped tumor cells, so may cause difficult diagnostic problem.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery/ultrastructure

A 70-year-old man was admitted to our institution due to aggravation of blood-sugar level control and because an abdominal CT showed dilatation of the main pancreatic duct. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a flat elevated tumor with central ulceration in the second portion of the duodenum. Subsequent duodenoscopy for a more detailed examination showed that the tumor had originated in the minor duodenal papilla. A biopsy specimen showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography via the major duodenal papilla revealed a slightly dilated main pancreatic duct and obstruction of the accessory pancreatic duct. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic mass in the minor duodenal papilla with retention of the muscularis propria of the duodenum. These findings suggest that the tumor existed only to a limited extent in the minor duodenal papilla, and that the tumor did not infiltrate into the pancreas. For treatment, pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was performed, and histological findings revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma that originated in the minor duodenal papilla. Primary adenocarcinoma of the minor duodenal papilla is extremely rare. Our case is the first report of primary adenocarcinoma of the minor duodenal papilla at an early stage with no infiltration into muscularis propria of the duodenum and pancreas.
Adenocarcinoma/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Aged ; Endosonography ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Ducts/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*pathology/ultrastructure

Pancreatoblastoma has been described in children and characterized by unique histologic features and excellent clinical course. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of pancreatoblastoma reveal either exocrine alone or both endocrine and exocrine differentiation. We present two cases of pancreatoblastoma in children in which immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examination failed to demonstrate features of either enzyme or hormone production and which became worse in clinical course. We assume that pancreatoblastomas are tumors which differentiate more toward acinar or ductal elements than toward islet cell.
Carcinoma/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*pathology/ultrastructure

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas is a very rare neoplasm, of which the histiogenesis remains controversial. A 63-yr-old woman was hospitalized for evaluation of epigastric pain. An abdominal computerized tomography revealed the presence of a large cystic mass, arising from the tail of pancreas. A distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. Histologically, the tumor was composed of mononuclear stromal cells intermingled with osteclast-like giant cells. In addition, there was a small area of moderately to well differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma. The final pathologic diagnosis was osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas with ductal adenocarcinoma. Here, we describe the histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and molecular biological findings of this tumor with review of the literature pertaining to this condition.
Antigens, CD/analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/analysis ; CA-15-3 Antigen/analysis ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/metabolism/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Giant Cell Tumors/metabolism/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin/analysis ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Osteoclasts/*pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology/ultrastructure ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/analysis ; Vimentin/analysis

Malignant insulinoma in the beta cells of the pancreatic islet is rare and usually presented as hypoglycemia. We report a case of large malignant insulinoma in a 53-year-old Korean woman. A presumptive clinical diagnosis was made before surgery, based on the high plasma insulin-to-glucose ratio and a large solitary heterogeneous pancreatic mass by abdominal computed tomography and endosonography. The tumor measured 5.8X4.7X4.5 cm in dimension and showed capsular invasions and metastases in two of four peripancreatic lymph nodes. The tumor cells were strongly immunoreactive to insulin and had a high Ki-67 labeling index (13%) and atypical membranous electron-dense granules, ranging from 120 to 400 nm in diameter, in the cytoplasm on electron microscopy. The patient was treated by distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and rapidly recovered without neurohypoglycemic symptoms. This case showed not only lymph node metastases, the most reliable parameter for malignancy in pancreatic endocrine tumors, but also other valid diagnostic clues, such as high Ki-67 labeling index, heterogeneous enodosonographic findings, capsular invasions with large tumor and pure atypical secretory granules.
Biopsy, Needle ; Endosonography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulinoma/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Islets of Langerhans/pathology/ultrastructure ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatectomy/*methods ; Pancreatic Function Tests ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Risk Assessment ; Treatment Outcome