CT and MRI features of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas with pathological correlations

• Published in: Clinical radiology Vol. 65; no. 3; pp. 223 - 229
• Main Authors: Hsu, M.-Y, Pan, K.-T, Chu, S.-Y, Hung, C.-F, Wu, R.-C, Tseng, J.-H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; alpha-Fetoproteins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell - pathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Digestive system; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pancreas, Exocrine; Pancreatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiology; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumors; Human; Radiodiagnosis; Malignant tumor; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Acinar cell carcinoma; Anatomic pathology; Medical imagery; Digestive diseases; Computerized axial tomography; Diagnosis; Cancer; Pancreatic disease; Pancreas carcinoma
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2009.11.010

Aim To document the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas and to correlate them with pathological findings to determine the unique imaging manifestations of this rare subtype tumour of the pancreas. Materials and methods From January 1986 to August 2008, six patients (five men and one woman, mean age 61.3 years) with histologically proven acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas underwent CT ( n = 6) and MRI ( n = 4) examinations. The imaging features of each tumour were documented and compared with pathological findings. Results The tumours were distributed in the head ( n = 4), body ( n = 1), and tail ( n = 1) of the pancreas. Four masses (67%) were uniformly or partially well-defined with thin, enhancing capsules. Central cystic components were found in five tumours (83%). Two tumours (33%) exhibited intratumoural haemorrhage, and one tumour (17%) had amorphous intratumoural calcification. In both CT and MRI, the tumours enhanced less than the adjacent normal pancreatic parenchyma. The signal intensity on MRI was predominantly T1 hypointense and T2 iso- to hyperintense. Conclusion Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas has distinct imaging features, and both CT and MRI are useful and complementary imaging methods.