Yonsei Med J.  2008 Aug;49(4):672-675. 10.3349/ymj.2008.49.4.672.

A Spindle Cell Predominant Pancreatic Solid-pseudopapillary Tumor

• Go JH

• KMID: 1793207
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2008.49.4.672

Abstract

A hitherto unrecognized variant of solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is reported. The tumor presented in the pancreatic tail of a 44-year-old female patient. It was a well-defined, solid nodule measuring 25mm in diameter, with homogenous tan gray cut surface. Histologically, the neoplasm was mostly composed of sheets of spindle cells. No cellular atypia and mitosis was identified. The periphery of the tumor showed typical feature of SPT. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, CD10, CD56, beta-catenin, and alpha;1-antichymotrypsin, but negative for cytokeratin, chromogranin, synaptophysin and S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, the tumor showed a few acinar spaces with microvilli between tumor cells. This case is peculiar in that the tumor did not show gross cystic change and predominantly consists of spindle shaped tumor cells, so may cause difficult diagnostic problem.

Keyword

Pancreas; solid-pseudopapillary tumor; spindle cell

MeSH Terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Pancreatic Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery/ultrastructure

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Resected pancreatic tumor (2.5 cm in size) was well-defined, homogenous and soft.

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  Fig. 2 The tumor was mostly composed of sheets of monomorphous spindle cells.

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  Fig. 3 The periphery of the tumor showed focally cystic change and pseudopapillary formations (A and B).

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  Fig. 4 Most of the tumor cells showed nuclear and cytoplasmic stainings for β-catenin (A) and cytoplasmic staining for CD10 (B).

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  Fig. 5 Ultrastructurally, the tumor showed a few acinar spaces with microvilli between tumor cells.

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