Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells is a rare neoplasm of exocrine pancreas. Till recently, some cases have been reported, however histogenesis of the tumors are controversial and their characteristic findings have not been described yet. Thirty five-year-old men and 75-year-old men were presented with upper abdominal pain and a palpable mass. On computed tomography, one case showed a well enhancing solid tumor with low density and the other was showed a mainly cystic tumor with peripheral enhancement in the body and tail of the pancreas. One case accompanied multiple metastatic liver masses with subhepatic lymph node enlargement. Tumor staining was seen on angiography. Biopsy and pancreatectomy were performed. Pathological findings revealed tumors composed of neoplastic spindle shaped or pleomorphic large cells with scattered non-neoplastic osteoclast-like giant cells. In one case, there were small foci of adenocarcinoma components in the periphery of the tumor. On immunohistochemical stain, neoplastic cells showed focal positivity for epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin. Tumors were diagnosed as undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells. We report these rare cases with a review of literature.
Prepancreatic postduodenal portal vein (PPPV) is a rare anomaly in which the portal vein runs between the pancreatic head and the duodenum. Understanding of this portal vein anomaly is important to avoid devastating complications, including portal vein ligation, resection or intraoperative hemorrhage. A 28-year-old female patient presented with right upper quadrant pain that she had suffered with for 2 days. Before performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we detected an abnormal shaped portal vein that ran in front of the pancreatic head and posterior to the duodenum on the CT scan. We report here on a rare case of prepancreatic postduodenal portal vein that was incidentally discovered on the CT axial images and coronally reformated images, in addition to observing it on the conventional portography.
Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is relatively uncommon, arising outside the central nervous system. Very rarely, it occurs within the urinary system. A 55-year-old woman presented with gross hematuria and right flank pain which had begun two months earlier. A well-marginated, low-density mass containing high-density portions representing hemorrhage was seen in the right kidney at pre-enhanced CT; contrast enhancement was not prominent. At both T1- and T2- weighted MR imaging, a multilocular cystic mass with high signal intensity portions representing hemorrhage was observed. Contrast enhancement was absent. We report the radiologic findings in this case of renal PNET.
Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy with an 18G cutting needle in patients suspected of having a pancreatic disease by analyzing the diagnostic performance and complication rate. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 35 consecutive patients who underwent an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy using a high-speed biopsy gun accompanied with an 18G cutting-type needle between May of 2001 and October of 2005. The diagnostic performance (i.e., the acquisition rate and diagnostic accuracy) and complications associated with core needle biopsies were evaluated for its efficacy and safety. Results: Thirty-six sessions of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsies were performed in 35 consecutive patients. All patients, except two (serous cystadenoma and autoimmune pancreatitis) were diagnosed with various subtypes of pancreatic cancer. The acquisition rate and diagnostic accuracy were 97% (35/36) and 94% (34/36), respectively. A complication occurred only in one patient (3%), which further proved to be a delayed complicaton (i.e., needle tract implantation). Conclusion: According to our findings, the ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy is a viable and safe method for the dignosis of pancreatic diseases. Moreover, it enables the diagnosis of the pancreatic cancer subtype.