Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, Pancreas



Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, Pancreas


Vikram Deshpande, MD









The pancreatic parenchyma is replaced by a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma, featuring small round blue tumor cells organized in sheets and trabeculae.






Most poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas of the pancreas are virtually identical to small cell carcinoma of the lung. Note the hyperchromatic nuclei with moulding and prominent apoptosis.


TERMINOLOGY


Synonyms



  • Small cell carcinoma


  • High-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma


  • Poorly differentiated endocrine carcinoma


Definitions



  • Clinically aggressive carcinoma of pancreas with morphological features suggestive of neuroendocrine differentiation and high proliferation (> 10 mitotic figures/10 HPF)


ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS


Unknown



  • No unequivocal evidence that well-differentiated endocrine neoplasms progress to poorly differentiated carcinomas


CLINICAL ISSUES


Epidemiology



  • Incidence



    • Rare, constituting 2-3% of all pancreatic endocrine neoplasms


Presentation



  • Jaundice


  • Back pain


  • Some patients present with hormonal symptoms including Cushing syndrome and hypercalcemia

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Jul 7, 2016 | Posted by in PATHOLOGY & LABORATORY MEDICINE | Comments Off on Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, Pancreas

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access