[Acinar cystic transformation of the pancreas (or acinar cell cystadenoma), a rare and recently described entity].

We report a case of cystic acinar transformation (also known as acinar cell cystadenoma) of the pancreas. A 40-year old woman presented 3 episodes of acute pancreatitis that revealed a multicystic lesion of the ventral part of the head of the pancreas. A Whipple resection was performed. Gross examination of the specimen revealed a well-demarcated multiloculated cyst measuring 4 x 2 cm without communication with the excretory ducts. The cystic spaces contained a non-mucinous fluid. Histological analysis showed numerous various sized cysts that seemed to develop from microcystic structures in the surrounding acinar tissue. The cysts were lined by normal appearing acinar cells, with no atypia, sometimes flattened. Acinar cystic transformation is a rare lesion of the pancreas whose histogenesis is unknown. It should be distinguished from other lesions such as IPMT in order to discuss a surveillance strategy instead of surgical procedure.