Activating mutation of the Kras oncogene is the most frequent and perhaps the earliest genetic alteration associated with pancreatic cancer. To examine the link between mutant Kras and exocrine pancreatic cancer, we generated transgenic mice carrying an elastase-mutant Kras transgene, which targets expression to pancreatic acinar cells. Most elastase-Kras founder mice displayed perinatal pancre...

INTRODUCTION Schwannoma is a rare tumor among pancreatic neoplasms. Schwannomas vary in size, and most of them are cystic, mimicking pancreatic cystic lesions. Generally, a definitive diagnosis is made at the time of histological analysis. The mainstay treatment is surgical resection. CASE PRESENTATION We report an unusual presentation of pancreatic schwannoma with abdominal pain and several ...

Two consecutive female patients presented with progressive jaundice, epigastric pain and weight loss. Cross-sectional imaging with computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging did not show any mass lesions whereas magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed common bile duct strictures. Both patients were then referred for endosonographic evaluation. Endoscopic ultrasound showed occ...

BACKGROUND The epigenetic mechanism of tumorigenesis in pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) remains largely unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the role of enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) alteration in pancreatic IPMN progression. METHODS Fifty-four surgically resected pancreatic IPMN specimens, including a total of 181 lesions (normal duct in 48, adenoma i...

OBJECTIVE To determine the occurrence of new disease in the pancreatic remnant after resection for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. DESIGN A longitudinal level II cohort study. SETTING Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. PATIENTS The primary cohort was a "resection cohort" of 203 patients who underwent partial pancreatic resection for an intraductal papillary muci...

BACKGROUND AND AIM The correct approach and treatment in a patient with a pancreatic lesion detected by imaging is not easy. Recently, the endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy is becoming a useful tool. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic yield and therapeutic impact of EUS-FNA in pancreatic lesions. METHODS Fifty-three patients with focal pancre...

Differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions remains as an important clinical challenge, mainly for the differentiation between mass forming chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can all provide valuable and complementary information in this setting. Among them...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this project was to study the imaging characteristics of multi-detector CT (MDCT) in different types of malignant tumor in the common bile duct ampulla. PATIENTS AND METHODS We examined 30 cases of pancreatic head cancer, 35 of terminal cholangiocarcinoma, 26 of ampullary carcinoma, and 40 of benign lesions, all confirmed by pathology. We used 64-slice spiral CT plain sca...

BACKGROUND Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL) are common. They are increasingly detected as an incidental finding of transabdominal ultrasound or cross-sectional imaging. In contrast to other parenchymal organs, dysontogenetic pancreatic cysts are extremely rare. In symptomatic patients the most frequent PCL are acute and chronic pseudocysts. The majority of incidental cystic lesions, however, are...

Chronic nonpathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia is characterized by a chronic, abnormal increase in the serum concentrations of the pancreatic enzymes including amylase, pancreatic isoamylase, lipase and trypsin. The diagnostic work-up that the physicians should recommend to subjects with hyperenzymemia to definitively assess this syndrome is still an open question. A 72-year-old female was a...