Atypical acinar cell foci in human pancreas. Morphological and morphometric analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
The morphological and quantitative findings of the present study suggest that atypical acinar cell foci are not neoplastic in nature.


BACKGROUND
Atypical acinar cell foci (AACF) are rare and unusual lesions in the human pancreas. The biological nature of AACF is poorly understood, and is not clear whether they represent neoplastic or degenerative changes in the acinar cells.


METHODS
To further characterize and understand the significance of AACF in relation to acinar cell tumor development, we have examined these lesions by light and electron microscopy and evaluated the growth pattern by measuring cell proliferation and the size of the foci in the pancreas of a 16-yr-old male.


RESULTS
The pancreas was grossly unremarkable. AACF were randomly distributed throughout the pancreas, well delineated, and showed minimal variation in sizes. The constituent cells contained uniform nuclei, pale vacuolated cytoplasm, and exhibited low nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. Electron microscopic examination showed a few zymogen granules and markedly dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. Proliferative index in AACF (13%) was less than in adjacent uninvolved acinar tissue (19%). Quantitative stereological analysis showed the pancreas to contain approximately 1800 AACF/cm3 with a mean focal diameter of 360 microns.
Fang
J
J
Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Hussong
J
J
Roebuck
B D
BD
Talamonti
M S
MS
Rao
M S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen