EXTENSION OF AN ACINAR CELL-CARCINOMA OF THE PANCREAS WITH CYSTIC CHANGES INTO THE MAIN PANCREATIC DUCT

We report a case of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas with mislead ing cystic changes. A 32-year-old woman presented with symptoms sugges ting acute pancreatitis on chronic pancreatitis. The abdominal compute d tomography and the endoscopic retrograde pancreatography demonstrate d hypertrophy of the pancreatic head associated with global dilatation of main pancreatic duct and secondary canals and a 5 cm communicating cyst A intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor was suggested. Microscopi c findings showed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Six month la ter, a liver metastasis was detected. The microscopic appearance was d ifferent, suggesting acinar cell carcinoma, confirmed by immunohistoch emistry. Only two other cases of acinar cell carcinoma with cystic com ponent have been reported in the literature.