An autopsy case of invasive ductal carcinoma with a component of anaplastic carcinoma (pleomorphic type) of the pancreas

Abstract

Anaplastic carcinoma (AC) is an aggressive tumor of the pancreas. Herein, we report the imprint cytology of an autopsy case of pancreatic invasive ductal carcinoma with a component of anaplastic carcinoma of the pleomorphic type (AC-P). A man in his 70s was admitted to our hospital owing to rapidly elevated levels of hemoglobin A1c. Computed tomography revealed a mass in the body of the pancreas and multiple hepatic masses. The patient died of pancreatic cancer after eight months and autopsy was performed. A well-defined mass of 25 mm diameter was noted in the body of the pancreas. Imprint cytology showed large pleomorphic atypical cells occurring both singly and in clusters, and isolated atypical multinucleated giant cells. Moreover, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were observed. Histopathology of the pancreatic mass showed adenocarcinoma admixed with squamous cell carcinoma and pleomorphic neoplastic cells with the same morphology as those in imprint cytology specimens. The diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma with a component of AC-P. The multiple hepatic masses were histopathologically diagnosed as metastases of pancreatic cancer. In this case, the imprint cytology showed the typical cytomorphology of AC-P.