Acinar cell cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas

An unusual tumor of the pancreas occurred in a 42-year-old man who presented with a gradually enlarging abdominal mass and weight loss. The mass was a 2 kg/25 cm diameter encapsulated multicystic tumor closely attached to the body and tail of the pancreas. On light microscopy it showed a predominantly tubular architecture and ultrastructurally numerous zymogen granules could be demonstrated in the tumor cells. It is therefore presumed to be of acinar cell origin. This tumor has features similar to the so-called acinar cell cystadenocarcinoma described in 1981 by Cantrell et al. Sixteen months after resection of the primary tumor a solitary liver metastasis was removed at a second operation.