Update on the pathology and genetics of exocrine pancreatic tumors with ductal phenotype: precursor lesions and new tumor entities.
The majority of pancreatic neoplasms show a ductal phenotype and can be classified as ductal adenocarcinomas. Pancreatic duct lesions have been discussed as tumor precursors. This review presents a recently adopted standard system for these lesions which distinguishes among three grades of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Molecular studies revealed that PanIN-2 and PanIN-3 lesions represent a distinct step towards invasive carcinoma. Another focus of the review is the advances that have been made in the further immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of special pancreatic neoplasms showing a ductal phenotype, such as undifferentiated carcinoma, mucinous noncystic (colloid) carcinoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, mucinous cystic neoplasm, medullary carcinoma, and other rare tumors.
Lüttges
J
J
Department of Pathology, University of Kiel, Germany.
Klöppel
G
G
D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D018282:Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype