Multifocal pancreatic serous cystadenoma with atypical cells and focal perineural invasion

Abstract

A case of multifocal pancreatic serous cystadenoma with atypical cells is reported. The patient was a 72-yr-old female who complained of jaundice. The distal common bile duct was obstructed, and the proximal bile duct was remarkably dilated on cholangiography. The main portal vein was obstructed and collateral vessels had developed on portal angiography. Total pancreatectomy was performed. The resected specimen contained one tumor in the head of the pancreas, five in the body, and one in the tail. The tumors of the head and body were morphologically the same. Microscopically, both contained spongelike multilocular cysts on their cut surfaces. These cysts were covered with low cuboid epithelium containing clear cytoplasm and abundant glycogen. Neural invasion was also found. The tumor cells exhibited an increased N/C ratio, variable nuclear size, irregular nuclear margins, and coarse nuclear chromatin. These tumors had aneuploid nuclear DNA with a DNA index of 1.9 and a proliferation index of 0.28. We feel that it is necessary to reconsider the biological concept of serous cystadenoma.