Undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a report of five cases

Of 485 pancreatic malignancies diagnosed at Hines Veterans Administration Hospital from 1951 to 1979, five cases were undifferentiated carcinoma proved on postmortem examination. The tumors are histologically akin to the more frequently encountered oat cell carcinoma of the lung. Their clinical manifestation and rapid, fatal course closely resemble that of the ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. A possible nonislet cell derivation of the neoplasm is postulated.