CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE MUCOUS PRODUCING PANCREATIC TUMORS

Abstract

Twelve cases of mucous producing pancreatic tumors including five benign tumors were analyzed clinically and histopathologically. They were different from usual pancreatic cancers in age, sex, chief complaint, and the clinical course. Mass survey by ultrasonography was useful for the detection of the dilated pancreatic duct and/or cystic lesion. ERCP was a very effective modality to make the final diagnoses of them. Enhanced CT and angiography were useful for the evaluation of extrapancreatic extension of these tumors and pancreatoscopy for intraductal growth. The pathological study revealed that histological types of these cases were variable. Papillary tumors were seen in the pancreatic duct of all these tumors. Adenoma and hyperplasia were thought to be as precancerous lesion of the mucous producing adenocarcinoma. It is suggested that the mucous producing adenoma and adenocarcinoma may closely relate to mucinous cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinomas from the view of the tumorgenesis. Mucous producing pancreatic tumor may be defined as a group of tumorous lesions which showed widened orifice of papilla of Vater and the dilated main pancreatic duct or cysticaly dilated branches containing mucous. It may not be defined from histopathological findings alone.