The spectrum of mucin-producing adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

The clinical distinction between cystic and mucinous carcinomas of the panc reas has been poorly defined. Therefore we sought to stratify the entity kn own as pancreatic mucinous adenocarcinoma based on pathologic and clinical criteria. Clinical data and pathology specimens were reviewed for patients (n = 40) who had been diagnosed as having mucin-producing pancreatic adenoc arcinoma and had undergone either resection or intraoperative biopsy of the ir pancreatic tumor during a 40-year period at the UCLA Medical Center. Bas ed on histologic criteria, three distinct classes of pancreatic adenocarcin oma were identified: mucinous noncystic (colloid) adenocarcinoma (group I), mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (group II), and ductal adenocarcinoma (group I II). Based on clinical behavior, groups I and III were indistinguishable. C ompared to patients from groups I and UI, those from group II were younger, more likely to be female, and had a better prognosis. Among mucin-producin g adenocarcinomas of the pancreas, mucinous noncystic adenocarcinoma and du ctal adenocarcinoma share similar clinical features, whereas true cystic le sions represent a distinct clinical entity.