Pathology of exocrine neoplasms of the pancreas

Epithelial neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas in adults can be divided into solid neoplasms (ductal adenocarcinoma, acinar cell carcinoma) which have a poor prognosis, or cystic neoplasms (serous, mucinous, intraductal papillary and solid pseudopapillary types), which are less common but have a much better prognosis; mesenchymal tumours and primary lymphoma are exceedingly rare. Secondary involvement of the pancreas can occur; the commonest metastatic tumours are renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Pancreatoblastoma is the commonest malignant pancreatic neoplasm in childhood, but is extremely rare.