Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas

Laura Bortesi; Anna Pesci; Giuseppe Bogina; Paola Castelli; Giuseppe Zamboni

doi:10.1016/j.path.2011.03.007

Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas

Surg Pathol Clin. 2011 Jun;4(2):487-521. doi: 10.1016/j.path.2011.03.007. Epub 2011 May 30.

Authors

Laura Bortesi¹, Anna Pesci¹, Giuseppe Bogina¹, Paola Castelli¹, Giuseppe Zamboni²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Via don Sempreboni 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy.
² Department of Pathology, Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Via don Sempreboni 5, 37024 Negrar, Verona, Italy; Department of Pathology, University of Verona, Ple. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.zamboni@sacrocuore.it.

PMID: 26837485
DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2011.03.007

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its variants comprise between 80% and 90% of all tumors of the exocrine pancreas. Because of its silent course, late clinical manifestation, and rapid growth, it is considered a silent killer. Only 10% to 15% of cases are resectable and the 5-year survival rate remains lower than 5%. The differential diagnosis between PDAC and chronic pancreatitis is a challenge for pathologists. This article provides a guide for pathologic evaluation of PDAC specimens with the macroscopic and microscopic features of common PDAC and its variants and discusses the differential diagnosis and morphologic and immunophenotypical prognostic parameters.

Keywords: Pancreas; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic neoplasms; Pathology.

Publication types

Review