[A clinicopathologic study on eight cases of cystic and solid tumors of pancreas]

To study the clinicopathologic characteristics, differentiation patterns and histogenesis of cystic and solid tumors of the pancreas (CSTP).

8 cases of CSTP were studied using histologic (HE and PAS), immunohistochemical (S-P method) and electron microscopic techniques.

All the patients were adolescent and young adult females, 14-33 years in age (mean 25.3 years) without recurrence after tumor resection. The mean diameter of tumors was 9.6 cm, all encapsulated. Histological examination showed presence of solid sheets, pseudopapillary, in all of the cases. Hemorrhage, foam cells, and cholesterol crystals were often found. Immunohistochemically, 8 cases were positive for alpha(1)-AT and lysozyme; 6 cases expressed vimentin, 2 cases expressed actin, and CgA-positive cells found in the tumor cell nests in one case. All of the cases showed PR, and 4 cases showed ER positive immunoreactivity in the majority of tumor cells, but negative for CK AE1, CK AE3, EMA, Synaptophysin, ACTH, gastrin, somatostatin, insulin, and glucogan in all the cases. Electron microscopy of 3 cases showed evidences of polymorphism in differentiation of the tumor cells, including the transitional appearance into ducts, acinus, and endocrine cells. Weibel-Palade body found in tumor cells in one out of 8 cases.

(1) CSTP is a distinct clinicopathologic entity in young female patients with a benign clinical course. (2) CSTP develops from primitive pancreatic cells, with the potentiality of developing into ducts, acinus, and endocrine cells.