Clinical and CT imaging features of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to analyse the clinical characteristics and computed tomography (CT) imaging features of patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma and to clarify characteristic imaging features.


METHODS
Clinical and CT imaging records of ten patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (three women and seven men; mean age, 58 years) examined using multidetector CT scanners were retrospectively studied. CT features emphasised included lesion location, size, shape, margin, solid or cystic component, density and enhancement. Imaging results were correlated with intraoperative surgical and pathological results.


RESULTS
Lesions were distributed throughout the pancreatic head (n=3), body (n=3), tail (n=2) and both body and tail (n=2). The average diameter was 6.1 cm, varying from 2.3 cm to 15.8 cm. The tumours were round or oval (n=7) or lobular (n=3). Seven tumours appeared as enhanced solid pancreatic masses, with the large masses having hypodense areas; three had >75 % cystic component; seven (70%), including four solid and three cystic masses, had well-circumscribed or partially well-defined thin, enhanced encapsulation. After contrast injection, the masses presented heterogeneous enhancement.


CONCLUSIONS
Acinar cell carcinoma should always be considered when a large pancreatic mass with typical imaging is found in solid masses with variably sized central cystic areas or cystic masses.
Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, China.
Shengping
S
Hu
Shudong
S
Hu
Mingliang
M
Wang
Zhiyuan
Z
Wu
Fei
F
Miao
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018267:Carcinoma, Acinar Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol