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A case report of undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas and literature review

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Abstract

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumors rarely arise in the pancreas. Here we report the case of a 78-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a well-defined 3 cm multilocular mass in the pancreatic body by the use of ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The rim and the septa of the tumor were well enhanced. The distal pancreas was removed with the spleen and the peripancreatic lymph nodes. Macroscopically, the mass was composed predominantly of a multilocular cystic tumor filled with hemorrhagic necrosis, and partly composed of solid components. A histopathological study showed a proliferation of multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells and spindle cells. Although the predominant tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin and CD68 and negative for epithelial markers, there were some sparsely scattered cytokeratin-positive neoplastic glands. Seventeen months after surgery, the patient is still alive and has had no recurrence. Below we review 32 cases of osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas that have been reported in English literature since 2000.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Kamitsuga General Hospital, 1-1033 Shimota, Kanuma, Tochigi, 322-8550, Japan

    Yasuhiro Togawa, Tsuyoshi Chiku, Wataru Sano, Tomoko Doki, Kentaro Yano, Hidehiko Uno & Tomohiro Muronoi

  2. Department of Surgery, Saitama Red Cross Hospital, 8-3-33 Kamiochiai, Chuou, Saitama, Saitama, 338-8553, Japan

    Akihiko Tonouchi

  3. Department of Radiology, Kamitsuga General Hospital, 1-1033 Shimota, Kanuma, Tochigi, 322-8550, Japan

    Katsuhiko Kaneoya

  4. Department of Gastroenterology, Kamitsuga General Hospital, 1-1033, Shimota, Kanuma, Tochigi, 322-8550, Japan

    Takashi Shinagawa

  5. Department of Molecular and Tumor Pathology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou, Chiba, Chiba, 260-8677, Japan

    Kenichi Harigaya & Akihiro Toyoda

Authors
  1. Yasuhiro Togawa
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  2. Akihiko Tonouchi
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Correspondence to Yasuhiro Togawa.

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Togawa, Y., Tonouchi, A., Chiku, T. et al. A case report of undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas and literature review. Clin J Gastroenterol 3, 195–203 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-010-0160-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-010-0160-2

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