Locally advanced undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas: a narrative review

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas (UCOGCP) is a rare pancreatic tumor that accounts for less than 1% of all pancreatic malignancies. The characteristic pathological manifestation of UCOGCP is the presence of osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) distributed among pleomorphic undifferentiated tumor cells. UCOGCP can occur either alone or in association with other types of pancreatic tumors. At present, there is no unified consensus or guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of UCOGCP, and most of the literature are individual case reports. With the accumulation in the number of clinical cases and the development of precision medicine technology, the understanding of UCOGCP is also deepening. Researchers have begun to recognize that UCOGCP is a pancreatic tumor with distinctive clinical and molecular characteristics. In this review, we focus on the latest research status and future exploration directions in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of UCOGCP.

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas: An individual participant data meta-analysis

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGCs) of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm that accounts for less than 1% of all pancreatic malignancies. The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding UC-OGC, and to highlight its biological behavior, clinicopathologic characteristics, prognosis, and therapeutic options. A systematic review of the literature in PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases was performed (last search October 31st, 2023) for articles concerning pancreatic UC-OGC in the adult population. Fifty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 69 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 1.1:1 and a mean age of 62.96. Main symptoms included abdominal pain (33.3%), jaundice (14.5%), weight loss (8.7%), while fourteen patients (20.3%) were asymptomatic. Surgical resection was performed in 88.4% of cases. Survival rates at one, three, and five years were 58%, 44.7%, and 37.3% respectively. Sex, age, size (cut-off of 4 cm), location, and adjuvant treatment did not significantly affect patient survival. UC-OGC of the pancreas is a rare subtype of undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with a better prognosis than conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma without giant cells. The establishment of a dedicated patient registry is imperative to further delineate the optimal treatment for this uncommon clinical entity.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells: a case report

BACKGROUND

Undifferentiated carcinomas of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCPOGC) are rare pancreatic neoplasms that account for less than 1% of all pancreatic malignancies. This case report of a 54-year-old male with metastatic UCPOGC adds to the existing literature and further ascertains the clinical and imaging features, treatment options, and prognosis of this rare entity.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the detailed clinical course of a 54-year-old Asian male patient with UCPOGC, with focus on the relevant clinical features and imaging findings that are characteristic of this disease entity.

CONCLUSIONS

UCPOGC is an extremely rare pancreatic tumor with a unique histopathology and clinical course. It is often difficult to distinguish UCPOGCs from other pancreatic tumors, such as traditional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), on imaging, and it therefore remains a pathological diagnosis. Surgery is generally regarded as the first-line treatment option, and the roles of chemotherapy and radiation are unclear. Due to the exceeding rarity of this tumor, large-scale clinical studies are not feasible. Therefore, it is important to share individual insights and experiences to improve our understanding and care for patients with this devastating disease.

Rare Solid Pancreatic Lesions on Cross-Sectional Imaging

Several solid lesions can be found within the pancreas mainly arising from the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic tissue. Among all pancreatic malignancies, the most common subtype is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), to a point that pancreatic cancer and PDAC are used interchangeably. But, in addition to PDAC, and to the other most common and well-known solid lesions, either related to benign conditions, such as pancreatitis, or not so benign, such as pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs), there are solid pancreatic lesions considered rare due to their low incidence. These lesions may originate from a cell line with a differentiation other than exocrine/endocrine, such as from the nerve sheath as for pancreatic schwannoma or from mesenchymal cells as for solitary fibrous tumour. These rare solid pancreatic lesions may show a behaviour that ranges in a benign to highly aggressive malignant spectrum. This review includes cases of an intrapancreatic accessory spleen, pancreatic tuberculosis, solid serous cystadenoma, solid pseudopapillary tumour, pancreatic schwannoma, purely intraductal neuroendocrine tumour, pancreatic fibrous solitary tumour, acinar cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclastic-like giant cells, adenosquamous carcinoma, colloid carcinoma of the pancreas, primary leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas, primary and secondary pancreatic lymphoma and metastases within the pancreas. Therefore, it is important to determine the correct diagnosis to ensure optimal patient management. Because of their rarity, their existence is less well known and, when depicted, in most cases incidentally, the correct diagnosis remains challenging. However, there are some typical imaging features present on cross-sectional imaging modalities that, taken into account with the clinical and biological context, contribute substantially to achieve the correct diagnosis.

CT Findings of Undifferentiated Pancreatic Cancer With Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells: A Case Series from a Single Center's Experience With 10 Cases

Little is known about the imaging features of undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas (UCOGCP) because of its extremely low incidence. To improve the diagnostic accuracy of this tumor, 10 UCOGCP cases with confirmed histopathology were collected and their clinical and image data features were analyzed. We found that the median age of our study was 61 years (50-76 years in range) and the main clinical manifestations were nonspecific abdominal pain. There were some differences in the degree of enhancement and computed tomography (CT) features between the tumor located at the head and body or tail of the pancreas. Perhaps these subtle imaging findings can provide valuable diagnostic information.

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast‑like giant cells of the pancreas: A case report

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas (UCOGCP) is a rare pancreatic tumor that accounts for <1% of all primary pancreatic malignant tumors. Although the tumor is considered a variant of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, there are substantial differences in the clinicopathological characteristics between UCOGCP and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Imaging examinations are useful in making a correct diagnosis, and providing a reasonable and effective surgical treatment regimen; however, the imaging characteristics of UCOGCP require further investigation. The present report describes a rare case of UCOGCP with rapid progression and poor prognosis. The patient could not undergo surgery and received chemotherapy drugs only. Chemotherapy did not markedly improve the outcome, and a follow-up 6 months after discharge showed that the patient had died. The present report describes this case and summarizes the available imaging findings to increase awareness, and to improve early diagnosis of this rare disease and therapeutic outcomes.

Case report: Pathological and genetic features of pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells

Objectives: Pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma accounts for 2%-7% of pancreatic carcinomas. We aimed to investigate the pathological and genetic characteristics of pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells and the key points of treatment. Methods: The clinical data and follow-up results of four patients diagnosed with pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells between May 2015 and May 2020 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Chief complaints included "pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen" (2/4), "nausea and vomiting" (1/4) or no symptoms (1/4). Preoperative mildly elevated tumor markers included carcinoembryonic antigen (1/4) and CA19-9 (1/4). The tumors were located in the tail of the pancreas in three patients and the head and neck in one patient. Tumor metastasis was found in pancreatic adipose tissue in two patients and lymph node metastasis in one patient, with microscopic heterogeneous mononuclear cells and scattered osteoclast-like giant cells of various sizes. One patient (1/4) had a mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas, and two patients (2/4) had adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic duct. Only one patient received postoperative gemcitabine combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel chemotherapy. Conclusion: Currently, treatment guidelines are lacking for PUC-OGC, and prognosis varies markedly. More cases must be reported to clarify its origination. The long-term follow-up of diagnosed patients and genetic mutation testing can also contribute to improving treatment and prognosis of this disease.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast like giant cells: Literature review with CT/MR imaging findings in 3 cases

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of pancreas (UCOGCP) is a relatively rare tumor worldwide. Its accurate preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult. Because the mass is usually large and closely related to neighboring structures, it is difficult to locate the tumor and it is often misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumor or gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Combining literature to analyze UCOGCP clinical features (including age of onset, prevalent location) and imaging features (including lesion size, mass nature), to explore the value of preoperative CT and MRI in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of UCOGCP and hope to help clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals the genesis and heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment in pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant-cells

BACKGROUND

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) of pancreas (UCOGCP) is a rare subtype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which had poorly described histopathological and clinical features.

METHODS

In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to profile the distinct tumor microenvironment of UCOGCP using samples obtained from one UCOGCP patient and three PDAC patients. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to support the findings of bioinformatic analysis. After quality control of the raw data, a total of 18,376 cells were obtained from these four samples for subsequent analysis. These cells were divided into ten main cell types following the Seurat analysis pipeline. Among them, the UCOGCP sample displayed distinct distribution patterns from the rest samples in the epithelial cell, myeloid cell, fibroblast, and endothelial cell clusters. Further analysis supported that the OGCs were generated from stem-cell-like mesenchymal epithelial cells (SMECs).

RESULTS

Functional analysis showed that the OGCs cluster was enriched in antigen presentation, immune response, and stem cell differentiation. Gene markers such as LOX, SPERINE1, CD44, and TGFBI were highly expressed in this SMECs cluster which signified poor prognosis. Interestingly, in myeloid cell, fibroblasts, and endothelial cell clusters, UCOGCP contained higher percentage of these cells and unique subclusters, compared with the rest of PDAC samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of cell communication depicted that CD74 plays important roles in the formation of the microenvironment of UCOGCP. Our findings illustrated the genesis and function of OGCs, and the tumor microenvironment (TME) of UCOGCP, providing insights for prognosis and treatment strategy for this rare type of pancreatic cancer.

Undifferentiated Carcinoma with Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells of the Common Bile Duct: A Case Report of a Rare Entity at an Unusual Location

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCOGC) is a rare variant of carcinoma with unique radiological and pathological features. This unusual carcinoma has been reported in a variety of organs and pancreas is the most frequently involved anatomical site. UCOGC of pancreas attains a relatively indolent clinical behavior and should be distinguished from ordinary pancreatobiliary adenocarcinoma. This paper presents the first case of UCOGC involving the entire segment of common bile duct (CBD) and common hepatic duct (CHD) without extending to the pancreatic tissue. Getting familiar with its clinical, radiological and pathological characters can help establish accurate diagnosis despite the occurrence of an unusual location.

A Rare Case of Pancreatic Cancer: Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Pancreas With Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells

Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is the most common pancreatic cancer, but undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGCs) is an exceedingly rare tumor. Microscopically, this tumor is characterized by the presence of two different cellular elements, namely, spindle or ovoid mononuclear cells and osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs). Here, we report a rare case of UC-OGCs in a 79-year-old male with a one-month history of epigastric abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. A blood workup revealed new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus, and a computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed acute pancreatitis with a hypodense lesion in the head of the pancreas concerning for malignancy. He underwent an endoscopic ultrasound that also revealed a mass in the head of the pancreas, but no lymphadenopathy was observed. Biopsy was obtained and histopathology revealed UC-OGCs. We present this case to increase awareness of this rare clinical entity in patients presenting with acute-onset pancreatitis.

Undifferentiated Carcinoma of Pancreas with Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells: One Center’s Experience of 13 Cases and Characteristic Pre-Operative Images

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Cephalic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells arising from the main pancreatic duct: case report and literature review

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cell (UCOGC) is a ductal carcinoma variant with a recently reported more protracted survival and pathognomonic histology comprising two cell populations: the mononuclear tumoral cells and nontumoral multinucleated giant cells. It usually presents as a large heterogenic tumor with mixed solid-cystic components. The tumor develops from the ductal epithelium but the sequence of epithelial changes is often not identified due to the rapid tumoral growth and associated necrotic changes. We report a case of a 76-year-old patient diagnosed with cephalic UCOGC originating in the epithelium of the main pancreatic duct with endoluminal growth and foci of other ductal neoplasms (high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and conventional ductal carcinoma). The particularity of our case consists in the identification of the columnar epithelium conversion, through high-grade PanIN, into UCOGC specific malignant features, in a large size tumor - aspect usually reported in small tumors. Alongside our case we also present a brief literature review of cephalic UCOGC case reports and case series.

Osteoclast-Like Giant Cell Tumors of the Pancreas: Clinical Characteristics, Genetic Testing, and Treatment Modalities

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to better characterize patient characteristics, treatment options, and outcomes for osteoclast-like giant cell carcinoma of the pancreas, a rare subtype of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of all patients with osteoclast-like giant cell carcinoma of pancreatic origin treated at Mayo Clinic from 2000 to present. Baseline patient characteristics, treatment modalities utilized, and outcomes were compiled. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis with a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients met criteria for inclusion. Four patients had distant metastases at diagnosis, the remaining 11 with locoregional disease. Median OS for the entire cohort was 11 months. Metastatic disease was associated with significantly shorter OS (3.5 vs 14.1 months; P = 0.005). Three patients had no evidence of disease at time of analysis; all 3 were treated with complete resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteoclast-like giant cell carcinoma of the pancreas is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. For patients with locoregional disease, surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemoradiation may play a role in extended disease-free survival. Metastatic disease presents a challenging entity to treat with little data to support any effective chemotherapy regimens.

Assessment and management of undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclastic like giant cells of the pancreas: a case report and revision of literature

BACKGROUND

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCOGCs) is a rare and aggressive non endocrine pancreatic carcinoma characterized by the presence of osteoclastic giant cells mixed with mononuclear cell. Very few cases have been reported in the literature and the histogenesis is controversial as, at the time of diagnosis, the tumor is often of advanced size and stage and it is difficult to pathologically observe its relationship with the pancreatic duct.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of 65-year-old male patient presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, and weight loss, which was treated with surgical resection. Histological examination revealed an undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells. The patient underwent to a routine pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. Actually, the patient was in good performance status and disease-free five months.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the present case and limited previous data, further researches preferably with large cohorts are necessary to clarify the pathogenesis of the neoplasm. However, as show in this case, histopathological and immunohistochemically studies are the gold standard for the diagnosis of UCPOGC. Investigation of the genomic alterations in UPOGCs could help to explain the histologic diversity of variant tumor and could provide a genetic basis for prognosis and treatment.

Osteoclasts in Tumor Biology: Metastasis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Myeloid Transition

Osteoclast is a specialized cell that originates from monocytic lineage, communicates closely with osteoblasts under physiological conditions, participates in bone modeling and re-modeling, contributes to calcium homeostasis and osteoimmunity. In pathological conditions, it is involved in many tumors such as giant cell bone tumor (osteoclastoma), aneurysmal bone cyst, osteosarcoma, and metastatic cancers, and it usually causes local spread and progression of the tumor, working against the host. Since osteoclasts play an active role in primary bone tumors and bone metastases, the use of anti-osteoclastic agents significantly reduces the mortality and morbidity rates of patients by preventing the progression and local spread of tumors. Osteoclasts also accompany undifferentiated carcinomas of many organs, especially pancreas, thyroid, bladder and ovary. Undifferentiated carcinomas rich in osteoclasts have osteoclastoma-like histology. In these organs, osteoclastoma-like histology may accompany epithelial carcinomas, and de novo, benign and borderline tumors. Mature and immature myeloid cells, including osteoclasts, play an active role in the tumor progression in primary and metastatic tumor microenvironment, in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), mesenchymal-epithelial-transition (MET), and cancer stem cell formation. Additionally, they are the most suitable candidates for cancer cells in cell fusion due to their evolutionary fusion capabilities. Myeloid features and markers (CD163, CD33, CD68 etc.) can be seen in metastatic cancer cells. Consequently, they provide metastatic cancer cells with motility, margination, transmigration, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, angiogenesis, matrix degradation, and resistance to chemotherapy. For these reasons, we think that the concept of Epithelial-Mesencyhmal-Myeloid-Transition (EMMT) will be more accurate than EMT for cancer cells with myeloid properties.

Undifferentiated Pancreatic Carcinoma With Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells: What Do We Know So Far?

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas is an aggressive but rare tumor for which several other terms have been used to describe its histological appearance. In addition, as osteoclast-like giant cells may accompany undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas, the WHO Classification distinguishes undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGC) from plain undifferentiated carcinoma since there are a few histopathological and clinical differences. UC-OGC was initially thought to be associated with worse prognosis compared to invasive ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma, since it is often unresectable at diagnosis and tends to recur rapidly even if completely resected. When true UC-OGGs are carefully dissected out from other anaplastic carcinomas, it becomes, however, clear that UC-OGCs do have more indolent behavior, especially the pure UC-OGCs. This mini-review summarizes the current knowledge on UC-OGC.

Osteoclast Giant Cell Tumor of Pancreas: A Case Report and Literature Review

We report a rare case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGC) in a 62-year-old female who presented with a three-month history of bilateral flank pain and significant unintentional weight loss. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed pancreatic tail mass, concerning for malignancy. She underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) which also revealed a pancreatic mass invading into the splenic artery. CT chest and positron emission tomography (PET) scan did not reveal any metastases. The patient had a distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and left partial adrenalectomy. Histopathology revealed undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs). The patient was recently started on adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and gemcitabine and the plan is to repeat imaging to assess response. We present this case to increase clinical awareness of this rare clinical entity, and also review controversies in the management and surveillance of UC-OGC.

Complete resection of a huge pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells

Pancreatic undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (PUC-OGC) is a rare neoplasm. We report a case of rapidly advancing PUC-OGC. A 54-year-old man had elevated tumor marker levels. Abdominal computed tomography showed a cystic mass in the body and tail of the pancreas, which infiltrated adjacent organs. The tumor exhibited rapid growth (doubling time: 39 days) but no metastases. We diagnosed PUC-OGC clinically and excised the pancreatic body and tail along with the spleen, left kidney, adrenal gland, and transverse colon. Pathological diagnosis showed histology consistent with PUC-OGC and a negative margin without nodal involvement despite the tumor being 28 cm in maximum diameter and having invaded the left kidney. The patient survived a year with a recurrence of liver metastasis after the initial surgery due to the partial hepatectomy and chemotherapy. Complete resection might be a good strategy to cure PUC-OGC in this case.

Undifferentiated Carcinoma With Osteoclastic Giant Cells of the Pancreas: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 38 Cases Highlights a More Protracted Clinical Course Than Currently Appreciated

Undifferentiated carcinomas with osteoclastic giant cells of the pancreas (OGC) are rare tumors. The current impression in the literature is that they are highly aggressive tumors similar in prognosis to ductal adenocarcinomas. In this study, the clinicopathologic characteristics of 38 resected OGCs were investigated and contrasted with 725 resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas without osteoclastic cells (PDCs). The frequency among systematically reviewed pancreatic cancers was 1.4%. OGCs showed a slight female predominance (62.9%, vs. 51.4% in PDCs). The mean age was 57.9 years (vs. 65.0). The mean size of invasive cancer was 5.3 cm (vs. 3.2). They were characterized by nodular, pushing-border growth, and 8 arose in tumoral intraepithelial neoplasms (4 in mucinous cystic neoplasms, 4 in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms type lesions), and 23 (61%) also showed prominent intraductal/intracystic growth. Twenty-nine (76%) had an invasive ductal/tubular adenocarcinoma component. Osteoid was seen in 12. Despite their larger size, perineural invasion and nodal metastasis were uncommon (31.6% and 22.6%, vs. 85.5% and 64.0%, respectively). Immunohistochemistry performed on 24 cases revealed that osteoclastic cells expressed the histiocytic marker CD68, and background spindle cells and pleomorphic/giant carcinoma cells often showed p53 and often lacked cytokeratin. Survival of OGCs was significantly better than that of PDCs (5 yr, 59.1% vs. 15.7%, respectively, P=0.0009). In conclusion, pancreatic OGCs present with larger tumor size and in slightly younger patients than PDC, 21% arise in mucinous cystic neoplasms/intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and 61% show intraductal/intracystic polypoid growth. OGCs have a significantly better prognosis than is currently believed in the literature.

Undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas: a series of 5 cases with clinicopathologic correlation and cytomorphologic characterization

INTRODUCTION

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas (UCOGCP) is a rare neoplasm involving the pancreas. Although typically diagnosed initially via endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), cytomorphologic characterization of the neoplasm has been limited to individual cases in the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five cases were identified in a retrospective review of our institution's records from 2006 to 2015. Cytomorphologic, immunophenotypic, and corresponding clinical features of the neoplasm are examined and described.

RESULTS

UCOGCP accounted for 0.9% of all new pancreatic neoplastic diagnoses, had a median greatest dimension of 4.3 cm, were variably located within the pancreas, and had variable features by radiologic imaging. Patients were of a median age of 78 years old at diagnosis, and had a median length of survival of 10 months. Smear-based cytomorphology and histomorphology from cell block preparations show atypical/pleomorphic mononuclear carcinomatous and bland osteoclast-like giant cellular populations. The immunophenotype of the mononuclear carcinomatous component was CD68, CD99, CK7 (variably), CKAE1/AE3 (variably), and, rarely, p40-positive. The osteoclast-like giant cells positively expressed CD68 and CD99.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial diagnosis of UCOGCP is frequently made via EUS-FNA of pancreas tumors, with cytomorphologic features on smears and hematoxylin and eosin stained slides prepared from cell block material being characteristic for the diagnosis. Although the cellular constituents have a consistent immunophenotype, the diagnosis can be based on the morphologic features alone. UCOGCP is an important diagnosis as it may have a distinct clinical course from undifferentiated carcinomas of the pancreas lacking osteoclast-like giant cells.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the head of pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells presenting as a symptomatic cystic mass, following acute pancreatitis: Case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Undifferentiated head of pancreas carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGC) is a rare neoplasm, with less than a hundred cases reported. We present such a case, in which the UC-OGC presented atypically as a cystic lesion following acute pancreatitis and led to late diagnosis.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 75-year-old female patient, who had suffered acute pancreatitis three years ago, was referred with a diagnosis of osteoclast-like giant cell (OGC) tumor of the head of pancreas. She had suffered acute pancreatitis three years ago. Two years ago she developed abdominal pain, steatorrhea and weight loss. Abdominal computed tomography imaging showed a cystic mass in the head of the pancreas (maximum diameter 4cm). The initial diagnosis was pancreatic pseudocyst; however as the mass gradually increased in size and the patient continued to be symptomatic, a CT-guided biopsy was performed. Histological examination revealed an OGC pancreatic tumor. In laparotomy a large (9cm) encapsulated heterogeneous mass was found with partial involvement of the common hepatic artery. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed and the involved part of the common hepatic artery was replaced with a homologous graft from the major saphenous vein. Post-operative course was uneventful. Histology revealed an undifferentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma with OGCs. She survived 10 months after the operation.

DISCUSSION

Pancreatic undifferentiated carcinomas with OGCs are very rare neoplasms and can present with an atypical clinical picture.

CONCLUSIONS

A symptomatic cystic lesion of the pancreas, which is growing in size, should be investigated promptly in order to exclude the presence of malignancy.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells: a rare case report and review of the literature

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCPOGC) is an extremely rare non-endocrine pancreatic tumor. To date, some cases have been reported, however, histogenesis and biologic behavior of UCPOGC remain controversial. We report a case of an UCPOGC in a 54-year-old female, who presented with a three-month history of recurrent abdominal pain without any incentive. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a large cystic mass of 10.5 × 9.3 cm in the body and tail of the pancreas compressing the adjacent bowel loop and stomach. The preliminary diagnosis was considered as a malignant tumor of body and tail of the pancreas. The patient had open distal pancreatic mass resection with splenectomy and according to the results of histopathological and immunohistochemical studies, the diagnosis of an UCPOGC was established.