Serous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

A case of serous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas in an 85-year-old woman is reported. The tumor extensively involved the body and tail of the pancreas and contiguously invaded the spleen. The histopathology of the tumor was similar to that of serous cystadenoma, but mild nuclear hyperchromatism and atypism were noted, and the neoplastic invasion of nerve fibers in the stroma was observed. In the spleen neoplastic cells forming microcysts were diffusely insinuated in the red pulp without the fibrous stroma. The patient is in good health without recurrence and metastasis after the operation. The present case is the second example of this kind of neoplasm that showed direct splenic invasion. Because serous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas exhibits bland cytological features, diligent search for the invasion of the surrounding tissue or peripheral nerves is needed for the differentiation from its benign counterpart.