FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION OF PANCREATIC EXTRAMEDULLARY PLASMACYTOMA - POSSIBLE CONFUSION WITH ISLET-CELL TUMOR

We report two cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) of the pancre as, diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Plasmacytoma of the pan creas is a rare neoplasm with only 12 cases recorded in the literature . Because of its scarcity and the cytomorphologic similarity between p lasma cells and endocrine cells, EMP of the pancreas may be confused w ith neuroendocrine (islet cell) tumors of the pancreas. Immunohistoche mical staining for light chain and/or neuroendocrine markers will prev ent diagnostic error when interpreting plasmacytoid neoplasms of any s ite susceptible to endocrine tumors, including the pancreas. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.