Unusual Cancers of the Pancreas

Tumors of the pancreas collectively are the fourth leading cause of neoplastic death despite being only the 10th most common site of cancer in the United States. In 2011, it is expected that over 44,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 37,660 will die from this disease. Approximately 95% of pancreatic cancers arise from the ductal epithelium, and another 3-4% arise from the islet cells. This chapter will review the unusual, remaining 1-2%, particularly epithelial malignancies of nonneuroendocrine origin. The nonepithelial pancreatic malignancies, including lymphomas, sarcomas, primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and desmoplastic small round cell tumor, are treated similarly to those arising from other sites and will not be addressed in this chapter. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Duke Scholars

Author Chanjuan Shi Pathology