ACINAR CELL-CARCINOMA OF THE PANCREAS - A HISTOLOGIC, IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY

A rare case of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas is presented. Bec ause of its unusual solid growth pattern, correct diagnosis required e lectron microscopic analysis and the demonstration of intracellular am ylase by immunohistochemical stains. The presence of pleomorphic elect ron-dense cytoplasmic granules containing fibrillary internal structur es is confirmed in this ultrastructural study. The differential diagno sis of acinar cell carcinoma from other neoplasms involving the pancre as, including neuroendocrine tumours, poorly-differentiated adenocarci nomas and neoplasms of putative acinar cell derivation, is discussed.