title: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (giant cell type) of the pancreas. A distinctive variant of osteoclast-type giant cell tumor of the pancreas.
abstract: Malignant giant cell tumors of the pancreas are rare neoplasms which have been generally thought to represent epithelial malignancies of either acinar or ductal epithelium. The authors have studied a tumor of the pancreas that was characterized histologically by a proliferation of benign-appearing osteoclast-type giant cells in association with atypical, often bizarre mononuclear cells. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated negative staining of the tumor cells with epithelial markers, including low-molecular weight keratins, carcinoembryonic antigen and epithelial membrane antigen, and positive staining with vimentin antibodies, supporting a fibroblastic line of differentiation. Electron microscopic examination also showed absence of ultrastructural features of epithelial differentiation such as microvilli, intercellular junctions, or desmosomes. The authors believe the current case represents a true sarcoma of the pancreas, currently best classified as a malignant fibrous histiocytoma, giant cell type. This tumor should be distinguished from the epithelial type of osteoclastic giant cell tumor of the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL 33140.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure