| Theme | Precancerous Lesions in the Digestive System | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Precancerous Lesions of the Pancreas | |
| Publish Date | 1998/06 | |
| Author | Susumu Matsukuma | Department of Pathology, Japan Self Defense Forces Central Hospital |
| Author | Koichi Suda | 1st Department of Pathology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | Mucous cell metaplasia/hyperplasia has been considered to represent precancerous lesions of pancreatic ductal carcinoma because of its high incidence in the pancreas with ductal carcinoma. The detection of K-ras gene alterations and the presence of "gastric mucin" in mucous metaplasia/hyperplasia may indicate a close correlation between mucous cell metaplasia/hyperplasia and pancreatic ductal carcinoma. However, mucous cell metaplasia/hyperplasia generally shows no distinctive cellularatypia and is considered to be a "background lesion of cancer" or "paracancerous lesion". We suggest that atypical mucous cell metaplasia/hyperplasia may be a precancerous lesion, although it is rare. To our knowledge, no distinctive lesions corresponding to precancerous lesionsof acinar cell carcinoma have been reported. | |