title: Giant-cell containing neoplasms of the pancreas: an aspiration cytology study.
abstract: Giant-cell containing neoplasms of the pancreas are rare with few reports documenting their cytologic appearance. Giant-cell containing neoplasms of the pancreas have been divided into two subtypes corresponding to the osteoclastic giant-cell tumor of the pancreas and the pleomorphic giant-cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Despite the better prognosis reported in some series for osteoclastic giant-cell tumors, the most recent edition of the World Health Organization classification lumps the two entities into a single category designated as undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells. Smears obtained from osteoclastic giant-cell tumors show numerous giant-cells with clustered overlapping, bland appearing nuclei containing prominent nucleoli consistent with an osteoclast-type multinucleated giant-cell. These neoplasms contain a second population of mononuclear cells showing more marked nuclear atypia. Pleomorphic giant-cell carcinomas are characterized by anaplastic giant-cells displaying marked nuclear pleomorphism. The mononuclear component is also pleomorphic with markedly atypical epithelioid and spindle shaped cells. In three reported cases, a tumor contained a mixture of the two cell patterns. Thus, undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells and pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma may represent a morphologic spectrum with pure osteoclast-like giant-cell tumors at one end and pleomorphic giant-cell carcinoma at the other. Fine-needle aspiration specimens from pure osteoclast-like giant-cell tumors will contain a population of bland multinucleated osteoclastic-like giant-cells that differ markedly from the anaplastic giant-cells of pleomorphic giant-cell carcinoma. The difference in the appearance of the giant-cells aids in distinction of the two neoplasms. When in pure form, the two neoplasms may follow different clinical courses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine and ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. layfiel@aruplab.com
authors.forename: Lester J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Layfield
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bentz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D018286:Carcinoma, Giant Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*