Am. Labate et al., COMPARATIVE CYTOLOGIC FEATURES OF PANCREATIC ACINAR CELL-CARCINOMA AND ISLET-CELL TUMOR, Diagnostic cytopathology, 16(2), 1997, pp. 112-116
Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) and islet cell tumor (ICT), both rare panc
reatic neoplasms, can be diagnosed accurately and rapidly with the use
of imaging-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies. The specific cytol
ogic features of these tumors are described in a series of 17 patients
, and histologic and immunocytochemical correlations ar-e discussed. I
mportant cytologic findings in ACC are loosely cohesive clusters with
cells having uniform nuclei and prominent nucleoli, cytoplasm is finel
y granular and eosinophilic. Islet cell tumors show many single cells,
occasional rosettes, uniform nuclei, sometimes binucleate, dense baso
philic cytoplasm. Chromogranin is often positive (80%) in ICT. Trypsin
and chymotrypsin were often positive (71%) in ACC. Histology was conf
irmatory in all cytology cases. The recognition of cytologic features
in conjunction with immunocytochemical studies can increase the diagno
stic sensitivity for these neo rare tumors. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.