J Korean Soc Radiol.  2019 May;80(3):585-590. 10.3348/jksr.2019.80.3.585.

Undifferentiated Carcinoma with Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells of the Pancreas Mimicking a Predominantly Calcified Mass: Case Report and Literature Review

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jongmee.lee@gmail.com
  • 2Department of Pathology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCOGCs) of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm that contains osteoclast-like giant cells, which are morphologically identical to those seen in giant cell tumors of bones. Histopathologically, it is composed of round to spindle-shaped neoplastic cells and non-neoplastic histiocytic giant cells. Although only limited radiologic findings are available due to the rarity of this tumor, UCOGCs shows variable imaging features in the literature from an inhomogeneous solid mass to a multilocular cystic tumor. Herein, we report an unusual manifestation of UCOGCs of the pancreas mimicking a predominantly calcified mass with radiologic-pathologic correlation.


MeSH Terms

Carcinoma*
Giant Cell Tumors
Giant Cells*
Pancreas*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

  • Fig. 1 CT findings of Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas in a 53-year-old man. A. Precontrast CT image reveals a predominantly high-attenuation mass (100–140 HU), measuring 5.8 × 4.3 cm, considered to represent calcifications in the body of the pancreas (arrows). B. Contrast-enhanced CT image at the pancreatic phase demonstrates heterogeneous, strong enhancement of the mass (arrows). C. Contrast-enhanced CT image at the portal venous phase shows mild enhancement of the pancreatic mass and an atrophic change of the pancreas tail (arrowheads) without main pancreatic duct dilatation. The pancreatic mass directly invades the posterior wall of the gastric high body (arrow). D. Microscopically, a mixture of spindle-shaped, variably pleomorphic neoplastic cells and scattered multinucleated OGCs (arrows) among neoplastic cells are observed with hemorrhagic areas (H&E, ×100). Ossifications were sparse within the tumor (not shown). E, F. Immunohistochemical staining reveals strong reactivity for the histiocytic marker CD68 (E) in OGCs and some tumor cells and for vimentin (F) in neoplastic cells and OGCs (H&E, × 200). H&E = hematoxylin-eosin stain, OGCs = osteoclast-like giant cells


Reference

1. Rosai J. Carcinoma of pancreas simulating giant cell tumor of bone. Electron-microscopic evidence of its acinar cell origin. Cancer. 1968; 22:333–334.
Article
2. Fukushima N, Hruban RH, Kato Y, Klimstra DS, Kloppel G, Shimizu M, et al. Ductal adenocarcinoma variants and mixed neoplasms of the pancreas. In : Bosman FT, Carneiro F, Hruban RH, Theise ND, editors. WHO classification of tumours of the digestive system. Lyon: IARC Press;2010. p. 292–295.
3. Ichikawa T, Federle MP, Ohba S, Ohtomo K, Sugiyama A, Fujimoto H, et al. Atypical exocrine and endocrine pancreatic tumors (anaplastic, small cell, and giant cell types): CT and pathologic features in 14 patients. Abdom Imaging. 2000; 25:409–419.
Article
4. Bauditz J, Rudolph B, Wermke W. Osteoclast-like giant cell tumors of the pancreas and liver. World J Gastroenterol. 2006; 12:7878–7883.
Article
5. Shindoh N, Ozaki Y, Kyogoku S, Nakanishi A, Sumi Y, Katayama H. Osteoclast-type giant cell tumor of the pancreas: helical CT scans. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998; 170:653–654.
Article
6. Muraki T, Reid MD, Basturk O, Jang KT, Bedolla G, Bagci P, et al. Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells of the pancreas: clinicopathologic analysis of 38 cases highlights a more protracted clinical course than currently appreciated. Am J Surg Pathol. 2016; 40:1203–1216.
7. Gao HQ, Yang YM, Zhuang Y, Liu P. Locally advanced undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas. World J Gastroenterol. 2015; 21:694–698.
Article
8. Molberg KH, Heffess C, Delgado R, Albores-Saavedra J. Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas and periampullary region. Cancer. 1998; 82:1279–1287.
Article
9. Joo YE, Heo T, Park CH, Lee WS, Kim HS, Kim JC, et al. A case of osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas with ductal adenocarcinoma: histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and molecular biological studies. J Korean Med Sci. 2005; 20:516–520.
Article
10. Yang KY, Choi JI, Choi MH, Park MY, Rha SE, Byun JY, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of pancreas. Clin Imaging. 2016; 40:148–151.
Article
Full Text Links
  • JKSR
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr