Cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Abstract

The cystadenomas were of two types: 1 Tumours with small loculi lined by cubical epithelium, in which there was little secretion of mucus by the epithelium but abundant mucoid stroma. There were six of these tumours and we have no evidence of malignant change in this type. 2 Tumours with relatively large cystic spaces filled with mucus and lined by tall, mucus-secreting epithelium. There were eight of these, and the possibility of malignant transformation in this type of tumour is indicated by the finding that in three cases of cystadenocarcinoma two appeared to have been preceded by simple mucus-secreting cystadenomas.Signs of recent or old haemorrhage were common in both types of cystadenoma and also in the cystadenocarcinomas.