Lipase‐secreting acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas with polyarthropathy. A light and electron microscopic, histochemical, and biochemical study

Abstract

A functional acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas is reported. The tumor was found in a middle‐aged, chronic alcoholic whose most persistent complaint was of polyarthropathy, especially of the lower extremities. A malignant tumor of acinar cell origin metastatic to the liver was diagnosed pre‐mortem by electron microscopy. The patient had a pancreatic tumor with extensive liver metastases at autopsy. The tumor contained abundant zymogen granules, and by histochemical and biochemical examination was seen to contain abundant lipase activity. The authors think that electron‐microscopy should be used routinely in the diagnosis of exocrine as well as endocrine tumors of the pancreas regardless of whether the specimen is obtained at surgery or autopsy. Copyright © 1974 American Cancer Society