Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences

View all Images (6)

Acinar cell carcinoma
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Acinar cell carcinoma

Contributors: Abhijeet Waghray MD, Khaled Bittar MD, Nishant H. Patel MD, Desiree Rivera-Nieves MD, Paritosh Prasad MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Acinar cell carcinoma is a rare malignant exocrine tumor of the pancreas resembling cells of the pancreatic acini. It comprises less than 1% of all pancreatic neoplasms and is usually a solid tumor. Its gross appearance is a pink to tan homogeneous growth. Tumors may grow to over 10 cm in diameter. Although seen most frequently in males of Northern European ancestry who are middle-aged or older, acinar cell carcinoma can occur at any age.

Findings include abdominal pain, a pancreatic mass, nausea, fatigue, weakness, elevated lipase, and weight loss. Some patients present with Schmid's triad (subcutaneous fat necrosis, polyarthritis, and eosinophilia) caused by elevated lipase secreted by the tumor.

Acinar cell carcinomas can easily be differentiated from adenocarcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors based on immunohistochemical stains. Overall prognosis depends on tumor size, lymph node involvement, and presence of metastasis at diagnosis.    

Treatment includes surgical resection with potential chemotherapy or radiation.

Related topic: Pancreatic carcinoma

Codes

ICD10CM:
C80.1 – Malignant (primary) neoplasm, unspecified

SNOMEDCT:
45410002 – Acinar cell carcinoma

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Reviewed:03/01/2018
Last Updated:03/01/2018
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Acinar cell carcinoma
A medical illustration showing key findings of Acinar cell carcinoma : Nausea, Vomiting, Diffuse abdominal pain, Glucagon elevated
Imaging Studies image of Acinar cell carcinoma - imageId=6846684. Click to open in gallery.  caption: '<span>Axial post-contrast MRI  demonstrates two arterially enhancing lesions in the left hepatic lobe, which demonstrated washout in the portal venous phase (not shown).  Findings were consistent with hepatocellular carcinoma. </span>'
Axial post-contrast MRI demonstrates two arterially enhancing lesions in the left hepatic lobe, which demonstrated washout in the portal venous phase (not shown). Findings were consistent with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.