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Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Mimicking and Manipulating Pancreatic Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia in 3-dimensional Cell Culture
Published on: February 11, 2019
Acinar cystic transformation of the pancreas
Matthew Pritchard1, Alberto Alejandro Boue2, Jaswinder Samra2
1Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia matthew.pritchard@health.nsw.gov.au.
Abstract:
Acinar cystic transformation (ACT) of the pancreas is a rare non-neoplastic cystic lesion. It is difficult to distinguish from more concerning pathology, particularly a side-branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). All reported cases of ACT have been clinically benign with no evidence of recurrence or malignant transformation. The Fukuoka guidelines is a classification system designed to help guide the management of IPMNs and mucinous cystic neoplasms. We report a case of ACT that was preoperatively diagnosed as a suspected side-branch IPMN. Through the application of current guidelines, the patient underwent a Whipple's procedure. We highlight the difficulties in obtaining an accurate preoperative diagnosis in cases of ACT and the current radiological and cytological methods available to clinicians.
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