These results indicate that the poor prognosis associated with high alpha-fetoprotein is due to high cell proliferation, high angiogenesis, and low apoptosis.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare variant of breast malignancy and is known to have an excellent prognosis. We report two cases of ACC diagnosed by preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), which proved to be very useful in determining the appropriate treatment. The patients were a 57-year-old woman (case 1) and a 71-year-old woman (case 2). On physical examinations and imaging studies both tumors were recognized as lobulated tumors that measured 3.0 x 2.3 cm (case 1) and 3.9 x 3.4 cm (case 2) respectively. FNAC materials showed clusters of malignant cells surrounding globules of mucus, therefore, ACC was diagnosed. Considering the characteristics of ACC, breast-conserving surgeries with axillary dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy were performed instead of primary chemotherapy or mastectomy. Histologically, a distinctive biphasic pattern was observed that consisted of true laminae and pseudocystic spaces. Tumor sizes were 4.0 x 3.3 cm (case 1) and 4.6 x 3.8 cm (case 2), respectively, and surgical margins were negative on microscopic examination. Lymph node metastasis was not present in either case. Even though ACC is very rare, preoperative diagnosis can be made based on its characteristic features. Preoperative diagnosis is extremely useful for determining appropriate treatment.

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumors rarely arise in the pancreas. Here we report the case of a 78-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a well-defined 3 cm multilocular mass in the pancreatic body by the use of ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The rim and the septa of the tumor were well enhanced. The distal pancreas was removed with the spleen and the peripancreatic lymph nodes. Macroscopically, the mass was composed predominantly of a multilocular cystic tumor filled with hemorrhagic necrosis, and partly composed of solid components. A histopathological study showed a proliferation of multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells and spindle cells. Although the predominant tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin and CD68 and negative for epithelial markers, there were some sparsely scattered cytokeratin-positive neoplastic glands. Seventeen months after surgery, the patient is still alive and has had no recurrence. Below we review 32 cases of osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas that have been reported in English literature since 2000.

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