title: Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
abstract: Infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is a real enigma. On one hand, it is one of the most deadly of all of the solid malignancies. On the other hand, the neoplastic glands can be remarkably well-differentiated, and it can be difficult to distinguish between a reactive non-neoplastic gland and a gland of invasive adenocarcinoma. In this review, we will present diagnostic criteria that one can "hang your hat on" when establishing the diagnosis of infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. We will also review clinically important features of the disease, and, with the impending incorporation of molecular genetics into everyday practice, we will emphasize clinical applications of cancer genetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Weinberg 2242, 401 N Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland 21231; Department of Oncology, the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: rhruban@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Ralph H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hruban
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Klimstra
mesh_terms: D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms
keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Pancreas; Pancreas cancer; Pancreatic cancer