Solid-cystic tumour of the pancreas. An endocrine neoplasm?

Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol. 1990;416(6):535-8. doi: 10.1007/BF01600305.

Abstract

Immunohistochemical studies and DNA flow-cytometric investigations were performed in a case of solid-cystic tumour of the pancreas in a 35-year-old woman. All tumour cells were immunoreactive for the neuroendocrine cell markers chromogranin A and neuron-specific gamma-enolase. Moreover, about 10% of tumour cells were immunoreactive for insulin, while hypoglycaemia was absent. Few tumour cells (less than 1%) were immunoreactive for somatostatin, and no cells were found to be immunoreactive for pancreatic polypeptide or glucagon. No immunoreactivity was present for duct cell marker carcino-embryonic antigen and only individual cells were reactive for alpha 1-antitrypsin. Nuclear DNA content of the tumour cells was diploid and the proliferative activity was low. In confirmation of some reports on neuroendocrine markers in solid-cystic tumour of the pancreas, our findings support the theory that the lesion is a hormonally inactive neuroendocrine pancreatic tumour.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cysts / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / analysis
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / analysis

Substances

  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase