Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Oncogene Expression Analysis with Alterations in pH in a Pancreatic Ductal Cell Line
Published on: April 11, 2025
Chronic pancreatitis and the differential diagnosis versus pancreatic cancer
Günter Klöppel1, N Volkan Adsay
1Department of Pathology, Universityof Kiel, House 14, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany. guenterkloeppel@path.uni-kiel.de
Context:
Distinguishing chronic pancreatitis from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a well-known challenge, at both the clinical and the morphologic level.
Objective:
To focus on the histopathologic findings that are diagnostic or suggestive of PDAC.
Data Sources:
Findings that are specific to PDAC are the presence of duct structures in perineural and vascular spaces and ("naked") ducts in fatty tissue. However, these findings are only observed in specimens containing extrapancreatic tissue. The features that are suggestive of PDAC in specimens from the pancreas include haphazard distribution of ductlike structures (ie, loss of a lobular pattern), markedly irregular ductal contours, ruptured ducts, nuclear enlargement, pleomorphism and hyperchromatism, and mitotic figures. Immunohistologic markers that are helpful are carcinoembryonic antigen, MUC1, p53, and Ki-67/ MIB1.
Conclusions:
There are a few features that are diagnostic and a number that are suggestive of PDAC. Therefore, a combination of several features may be required to clearly distinguish chronic pancreatitis from invasive PDAC.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
