Primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas

Abstract

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare subtype of pancreatic cancer. A 55-year-old female patient was admitted in our hospital for evaluation of her epigastric pain of 2 months duration. On physical examination, there was no jaundice. Diffuse tenderness was present over the right upper quadrant and epigastrium. There was a mass located in the epigastrium. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed an 8 × 9 cm solid mass with partly cystic areas in the region of body and tail of the pancreas. Other investigations including liver function tests, complete blood count, and urea and electrolytes were normal. A clinical diagnosis of pancreatic tumor was made. Distal pancreatectomy with gastric reconstruction and small bowel anastomosis with splenectomy was done. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas with infiltration into the wall of duodenum. Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas is an uncommon variant of exocrine pancreatic cancer which demonstrates characteristic immunoprofile and distinct clinical and pathologic features with a worse prognosis than ductal adenocarcinoma.