Solid type clear cell carcinoma of the pancreas: differential diagnosis of an unusual case and review of the literature

Virchows Arch. 2007 Jun;450(6):719-26. doi: 10.1007/s00428-007-0416-5. Epub 2007 Apr 24.

Abstract

Pancreatic neoplasms have been reliably classified on the basis of their histopathology and immunophenotype. In this study, we report on a pancreatic tumor whose phenotype and genotype could not be assigned to any known tumor entity. The tumor was observed in the pancreatic head of a 54-year-old woman. It was found to be a solid infiltrating carcinoma with abundant clear cells. Apart from cytokeratin, the tumor cells expressed vimentin, S100, and MUC-1. DNA microarray analysis revealed a transcription profile clearly differing from that of normal pancreatic tissue and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Despite metastatic behavior, the tumor displayed a more favorable course than conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We suggest that this tumor be called solid type clear cell carcinoma of the pancreas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / secondary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Keratins / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Microarray Analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucin-1 / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • S100 Proteins / metabolism
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • S100 Proteins
  • Vimentin
  • Keratins