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Imaging features of undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas
Author(s) -
Ishigami Kousei,
Nishie Akihiro,
Yamamoto Takeo,
Asayama Yoshiki,
Ushijima Yasuhiro,
Kakihara Daisuke,
Fujita Nobuhiro,
Morita Koichiro,
Ohtsuka Takao,
Kawabe Ken,
Mochidome Naoki,
Honda Hiroshi
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1754-9485
pISSN - 1754-9477
DOI - 10.1111/1754-9485.12925
Subject(s) - medicine , calcification , pancreas , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , fat necrosis , thrombus , carcinoma , hemosiderin , pancreatic duct , pathology , necrosis
The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate imaging features of undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas. Methods The study group included eight patients with surgically resected undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas. Multidetector‐row computed tomography ( MDCT , n = 8) and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI , n = 6) findings were retrospectively reviewed. Results On MDCT , all eight cases were hypovascular with upstream main pancreatic duct ( MPD ) dilatation, and only 1 showed exophytic growth. Five cases (62.5%) showed necrosis/cystic change, and calcification was observed in two cases (25%). Calcification reflected tumour osteoid components. On MRI , haemorrhage and hemosiderin were observed in 4 of 6 (66.7%) cases. In addition, tumour thrombus in the splenic vein ( n = 1) and intraductal tumour growth in the MPD ( n = 2) were pathologically identified, although imaging studies only revealed 1 of these latter cases. Conclusion Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas may present as a tumour with haemorrhagic necrosis. Coexistence of calcification, intraductal tumour growth in the MPD and tumour thrombus may support the imaging diagnosis of this entity.