Nonductal Pancreatic Cancers

Abstract

Nonductal pancreatic neoplasms, including solid pseudopapillary neoplasms, acinar cell carcinomas, and pancreatoblastomas, are uncommon. These entities share overlapping gross, microscopic, and immunohistochemical features, such as well-demarcated solid neoplasms, monotonous cellular tumor cells with little intervening stroma, and abnormal beta-catenin expression. Each tumor also has unique clinicopathologic characteristics with diverse clinical behavior. To differentiate nonductal pancreatic neoplasms, identification of histologic findings, such as pseudopapillae, acinar cell features, and squamoid corpuscles, is important. Immunostainings for acinar cell or neuroendocrine markers are helpful for differential diagnosis. This article describes the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of nonductal pancreatic cancers.

Keywords: Acinar; Pancreas; Pancreatoblastoma; Solid pseudopapillary.