Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas

Definition

An extrahepatic tumour showing features of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Epidemiology

Hepatoid pancreatic carcinomas occur in adults.

Clinical features

If arising in association with an insulinoma, patients may present with hypoglycaemia. Serum AFP may be elevated.

Histopathology

The hepatoid cells are large with eosinophilic or clear, sometimes granular, cytoplasm. They form sheets or trabeculae. The cells contain abundant glycogen and may produce bile.

Immunohistochemistry

	Hepatoid component	Endocrine component
Hep-Par1	1/11
AFP	1/11	weak1
polyclonal CEA	1/1: canalicular pattern1	1/11
Alpha-1-antitrypsin	1/11	weak1
Cytokeratin	weak1	1/11
Chromogranin		1/11
Synaptophysin		1/11
Vimentin	1/11	1/11

Prognosis

The prognosis is poor.

References

1 Hameed O, Xu H, Saddeghi S, et al. Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas: a case report and literature review of a heterogeneous group of tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 2007; 31:146-52

This page last revised 26.5.2007.