Types
of Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer
Exocrine tumors account for 95% of
all pancreatic cancers. There are still many types of exocrine
tumors, including the most common type: adenocarcinoma.
| Type |
Description |
| Acinar
Cell Carcinoma |
This rare cancerous tumor may cause excessive production of
pancreatic digestive enzymes. |
| Adenocarcinoma |
This type of tumor accounts for 75% of all pancreas cancers
and arises from cells lining the pancreatic duct. Adenocarcinomas
may form glands, or a collection of cells surrounding an empty
space. |
| Adenosquamous Carcinoma |
This type of tumor is similar to adenocarcinoma in that it
forms glands, but it flattens as it grows. It can mimic
other types of cancer that show squamous differentiation. |
| Giant Cell Tumor |
This type of tumor is extremely rare and is not as aggressive
as adenocarcinoma. It has unusually large cells, but the
tumor is not any larger than other pancreatic tumors. |
| Intraductal Papillary-Mucinous Neoplasm
(IPMN) |
This tumor grows from the pancreatic duct or off side branches
of the duct. The tumor appears to be a fingerlike projection
into the duct. It can be diagnosed as benign or malignant. |
| Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma |
This rare, cystic, fluid-containing tumor can develop into
cancer over time. The space within the spongy tumor is
filled with a think fluid called mucin. This type of tumor
has a better prognosis than other pancreatic tumors. |
| Pancreatoblastoma |
This rare, malignant tumor is found primarily in children
under that age of 10. It is often called pancreatic cancer
of infancy. The prognosis is better than other forms of
pancreatic cancer. |
| Serous Cystadenocarcinoma |
This is a rare, benign, cystic, fluid-containing tumor with
a sponge-like appearance. It can grow to be quite large
and is almost always benign. |
| Solid and Pseudopapillary Tumors |
These tumors can arise anywhere in the pancreas. Some
parts of the tumor are solid, while other parts are papillary
(finger-like projections). It is primarily found in women
in their 30's. |
Metastatic
Pancreatic Cancer
When pancreatic cancer
spreads (metastasizes) outside the pancreas, it is often found in
nearby lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are part of the extensive
lymph system of vessels and ducts throughout the entire body that
help filter and remove foreign materials. If there are cancer
cells in the lymph nodes, it is possible that the cancer has also
spread to other distant organs or tissues, such as the liver or
lungs. Sometimes, pancreatic cancer cells spread to the tissue
that lines the abdomen, the peritoneum. Because these cancer
cells in these other locations originated in the pancreas, they
are still con sidered pancreatic cancer cells and will be treated
as such.
Links
to additional resources:
National
Cancer Institute
MedLine
Plus - A Service of the National Library of Medicine
MD
Anderson Cancer Center
Johns
Hopkins University
Greenebaum
Cancer Center Pancreatic Cancer Overview
Presbyterian
Hospital of Dallas - Digestive System Information
The
Pancreatic Duct
Cancer
Consultants - Pancreatic Cancer Information Center
CancerAnswers.com
Cancer
Links USA
|
