Pancreatoblastoma: a rare, adult pancreatic tumor with many faces

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2013 Sep;137(9):1224-6. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2013-0272-CR.

Abstract

Pancreatoblastomas are malignant epithelial neoplasms of the pancreas that are heterogeneous and have variable cellular differentiation, complicating the diagnosis. We report a case of pancreatoblastoma occurring in an adult patient, presenting as a pancreatic head mass with liver metastasis and jaundice. The initial liver biopsy diagnosis was metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma based on morphology and synaptophysin positivity. At pancreatic resection, the diagnostic features of pancreatoblastoma were recognized. We review the radiologic and pathologic differential diagnosis, histologic heterogeneity, clinical presentation, and associated genetic syndromes for this unusual tumor that can mimic other types of pancreatic neoplasia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain
  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Jaundice
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Supplementary concepts

  • Pancreatoblastoma