Open AccessProblems in Differentiating Between Pancreatic Lymphoma and Anaplastic Carcinoma and Their Management
Author(s) -
Norman B. Ackerman,
J Aust,
Carl E. Bredenberg,
Victor A. Hanson,
Lloyd S. Rogers
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-197612000-00007
Subject(s) - medicine , anaplastic carcinoma , autopsy , pancreas , radiation therapy , lymphoma , biopsy , carcinoma , metastasis , chemotherapy , sarcoma , radiology , pathology , general surgery , cancer
A group of 6 patients with malignancies involving the pancreas is presented, with a range of diagnosis from primary reticulum cell sarcoma to probable anaplastic carcinoma. Even with adequate biopsy and autopsy material, it may be difficult to provide a definitive tissue diagnosis in these patients. Although this entire spectrum of tumors is uncommon, it is important to try to establish a diagnosis whenever possible. Biopsy of the tumor should be performed, even from the pancreas itself, if necessary, particularly when the initial presentation of the disease is unusual or if the pattern of metastasis is different from that usually seen with carcinoma of the pancreas. It is suggested that a therapeutic trial of appropriate radiotherapy and chemotherapy be instituted in patients of this type even if a diagnosis of lymphoma is not firmly established. The possibility exists of survival of some of these patients for periods of one year or more as a result of successive therapy.