Abstract
Context: Anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma is an aggressive neoplasm with survival measurable in weeks. It presents as a large cystic mass with loco-regional and distant spread. Three histological types have been described: pleomorphic, spindle cell and sarcomatoid. Case report: We describe the case of a 74-year-old woman with pleomorphic anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas diagnosed after laparoscopic biopsy. The patient had a rapid downhill course with progression of the disease and demise within 4 weeks after diagnostic laparoscopy. Conclusion: Due to the rapid spread of the disease, no effective cure exists for these tumors. A brief review of the histological and radiological findings and the possible mechanisms of the pathogenesis of anaplastic tumors is included in the discussion.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 512-515 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of the Pancreas |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 6 |
State | Published - Nov 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Biopsy
- Histology
- Laparoscopy
- Pancreatic neoplasms
- Tomography, X-ray computed
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Hepatology
- Endocrinology