Morphologic Variants of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Clinicopathologic Analysis and Prognostic Stratification

In conclusion, PanNETs display various morphologic patterns that are not only challenging and important diagnostically but appear to have biologic significance. Tumors with more diffuse growth of cells with nucleoli and abundant cytoplasm and/or discohesion (oncocytic, hepatoid, lipid-rich, plasmacytoid PanNETs), provisionally termed “metabolic cell phenotype,” show aggressive characteristics and are an independent determinant of adverse outcome and thus may require closer post-surgical follow-up, whereas variants with more degenerative or mature features (ductuloinsular, pleomorphic, paraganglioma-like) appear to be more be nevolent despite their more atypical and worrisome morphology.
Source: Endocrine Pathology - Category: Pathology Source Type: research