Anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas arising in an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm: A case report

Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Lung with a Mural Nodule-like Lesion

Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) of the lung shares some clinicopathological features with mucinous carcinoma of other organs, such as the ovary. Sarcoma-like lesions, called mural nodules, have been reported in the cystic walls of ovarian mucinous tumors. In this study, we analyzed 213 surgically resected cases of IMA of the lung to determine whether similar mural nodule-like lesions were present. We considered abrupt discrete lesions composed of dedifferentiated tumor cells as mural nodule-like lesions. Of 213 IMAs, we identified 11 tumors with mural nodule-like lesions that were histologically categorized into three subtypes similar to those in the ovary. The sarcomatoid and anaplastic carcinoma-like nodules were composed of spindle cell proliferations and polygonal undifferentiated carcinoma, respectively. Sarcoma-like lesions mimicked sarcomatoid nodules, but the spindle cell proliferations were considered a fibroblastic reaction to the scattered, isolated clusters of tumor cells. Molecular analysis of the components of differentiated IMAs and mural nodule-like lesions revealed a clonal relationship, suggesting a spectrum of tumors with different histology. Clinicopathologically, an older age, the male sex, and smokers were significantly associated with IMAs with mural nodule-like lesions. Notably, patient outcomes were unaffected by the presence or absence of these lesions. Our findings demonstrated that IMA of the lung rarely develops mural nodule-like lesions (11 of 213, 5%). Despite a histological impression of clinical aggressiveness, there was no clear trend in patient outcomes, suggesting that pathologists should avoid overstating this mural nodule-like lesion.

Cephalic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells arising from the main pancreatic duct: case report and literature review

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cell (UCOGC) is a ductal carcinoma variant with a recently reported more protracted survival and pathognomonic histology comprising two cell populations: the mononuclear tumoral cells and nontumoral multinucleated giant cells. It usually presents as a large heterogenic tumor with mixed solid-cystic components. The tumor develops from the ductal epithelium but the sequence of epithelial changes is often not identified due to the rapid tumoral growth and associated necrotic changes. We report a case of a 76-year-old patient diagnosed with cephalic UCOGC originating in the epithelium of the main pancreatic duct with endoluminal growth and foci of other ductal neoplasms (high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and conventional ductal carcinoma). The particularity of our case consists in the identification of the columnar epithelium conversion, through high-grade PanIN, into UCOGC specific malignant features, in a large size tumor - aspect usually reported in small tumors. Alongside our case we also present a brief literature review of cephalic UCOGC case reports and case series.

An intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm associated tubular adenocarcinoma with sarcomatoid component: A case report

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are a risk factor for the development of adenocarcinoma. However, the presence of a component of sarcomatoid carcinoma in the malignant tumor has rarely been described in the literature. A 30-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to our hospital with vague abdominal pain and a poor appetite for 2 months. Computed tomography revealed a huge, unilocular, solid-cystic mass in the pancreatic body, and tail. The patient underwent an en bloc resection of the distal pancreatic tumor with splenectomy and regional lymphadenectomy. Pathologic examination revealed an IPMN associated tubular adenocarcinoma containing a component of sarcomatoid (spindle-shaped cell) carcinoma. Immunohistochemical results revealed that the mononuclear spindle-shaped cells were positive for both pan-cytokeratin and vimentin. There was no evidence of perineural or vascular infiltration, lymph nodal metastasis, or positive surgical margins. The patient developed local recurrence 3 months after surgery for which she received chemoradiotherapy at another hospital. Distant metastases were detected 6 months after the surgery and the patient expired 9 months after surgical resection. We concluded that the presence of sarcomatoid change in IPMN-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma may indicate poor prognosis.

Undifferentiated Pancreatic Carcinoma With Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells: What Do We Know So Far?

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas is an aggressive but rare tumor for which several other terms have been used to describe its histological appearance. In addition, as osteoclast-like giant cells may accompany undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas, the WHO Classification distinguishes undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGC) from plain undifferentiated carcinoma since there are a few histopathological and clinical differences. UC-OGC was initially thought to be associated with worse prognosis compared to invasive ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma, since it is often unresectable at diagnosis and tends to recur rapidly even if completely resected. When true UC-OGGs are carefully dissected out from other anaplastic carcinomas, it becomes, however, clear that UC-OGCs do have more indolent behavior, especially the pure UC-OGCs. This mini-review summarizes the current knowledge on UC-OGC.

Negative prognostic impact of PD-L1 expression in tumor cells of undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas: study of 13 cases comparing ductal pancreatic carcinoma and review of the literature

Pancreatic carcinoma remains one of the leading cancer-related causes of death worldwide and is generally characterized by a dismal prognosis and limited potential for oncologic treatment. A rare subvariant of pancreatic cancer, undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCOGC), has an unpredictable prognosis according to many previous studies, with unexpectedly long survival in individual cases. In this study, we collected, retrospectively, 13 cases of well-documented UCOGCs and performed immunohistochemistry focused on the expression of the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and several other potential therapeutic and predictive markers (PanTRK, p53, MSH2, PMS2, and the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes), to explore their correlation with the follow-up of the patients. As a control group, we examined 24 cases of conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In our results, PanTRK was negative in all 24 cases. P53 did not show any significant differences between UCOGCs and PDACs, and the entire cohort was MSH2, MLH1, PMS2, and MSH6 positive. Significant differences were present in the analysis of PD-L1: UCOGCs were found to express PD-L1 significantly more frequently and have a higher number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes than PDAC. The expression of PD-L1 was related to significantly shorter survival in patients with UCOGC and in the entire cohort. Patients with PD-L1 negative UCOGCs displayed surprisingly long survival in comparison to PD-L1 positive UCOGCs and PDACs (both PD-L1+ and PD-L1-). We compared our results with previously published data, and, after statistical analysis, we were able to identify PD-L1 as an effective prognostic marker of UCOGC and suggest a strong need for a clinical trial of immune checkpoint immunotherapy in patients with advanced PD-L1 positive UCOGC.

Imaging features of undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate imaging features of undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas.

METHODS

The study group included eight patients with surgically resected undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas. Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT, n = 8) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, n = 6) findings were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

On MDCT, all eight cases were hypovascular with upstream main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation, and only 1 showed exophytic growth. Five cases (62.5%) showed necrosis/cystic change, and calcification was observed in two cases (25%). Calcification reflected tumour osteoid components. On MRI, haemorrhage and hemosiderin were observed in 4 of 6 (66.7%) cases. In addition, tumour thrombus in the splenic vein (n = 1) and intraductal tumour growth in the MPD (n = 2) were pathologically identified, although imaging studies only revealed 1 of these latter cases.

CONCLUSION

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas may present as a tumour with haemorrhagic necrosis. Coexistence of calcification, intraductal tumour growth in the MPD and tumour thrombus may support the imaging diagnosis of this entity.

Anaplastic pancreatic cancer diagnosed with endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration showing hypervascular tumor: A case report

RATIONALE

Pancreatic ductal carcinoma is a hypovascular tumor, and characteristic findings are observed on imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in most cases.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Here we report a case of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas (ACP) with characteristics of hypervascular tumor diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). A 70-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of exacerbation of diabetes. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a hypervascular tumor at the head of the pancreas.

DIAGNOSIS

EUS-FNA was performed. Osteoclast-like giant cells and tumor cells with polymorphic nuclei were found on pathological examination and she was diagnosed with ACP.

INTERVENTIONS

Although it was a surgical indication at the time of diagnosis, the tumor rapidly worsened. Oral administration of TS-1 (tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil) was initiated. Chemotherapy was discontinued after the end of 2 courses because the tumor had increased prominently on CT.

OUTCOMES

She died approximately a year since the onset of the illness.

LESSONS

ACP occasionally exhibits the characteristics of a hypervascular tumor and may require differentiation from other pancreatic tumors, such as neuroendocrine tumor. Therefore, pathological diagnosis by EUS-FNA at an early stage is important to determine treatment strategies.