Benign neural invasion in chronic pancreatitis

We describe two cases of benign neural invasion by proliferated islet cells in a background of chronic pancreatitis, and cite additional examples of benign neural invasion in other locations. This phenomenon, which represents the presence of collections of benign epithelial structures in a nerve or in a perineural space, is usually associated with an adjacent proliferative, but benign process, suggesting that mechanical forces may produce displacement along planes of least resistance. The important point is that neural invasion is not synonymous with malignancy, and that benign epithelial structures can be encountered in both a perineural and intraneural location.