[Endocrine component of exocrine pancreatic tumors. Apropos of 2 cases]

Two cases of pancreatic exocrine tumors with endocrine component are reported. The first case concerned a microcystic cystadenoma including an endocrine tumor identified by Grimelius staining and positive immunostaining for neurone specific enolase and the second a tubular adenocarcinoma including cells with positive immunostaining for glucagon and neurone specific enolase. The malignant nature of the endocrine component of both tumors which was certain for the first one and probable for the second whose endocrine component was distinct from the hyperplastic endocrine reaction observed at the periphery of the tumor, seems to support the hypothesis of exocrine and endocrine differentiation from a common precursor cell. The precise value of such a sub-group of pancreatic tumors with double component need to be clarified.