Benign variant of osteoclast type giant cell tumor of the pancreas. importance of the lack of epithelial differentiation.
Machado, M.A.C.; Herman, P.; Montagnini, A.L.; Jukemura, J.; Leite, K.R.M.; Machado, M.C.C.
Pancreas 22;105-7, 2001.
Osteoclast-like giant cell tumor of the pancreas (OGTP) is an unusual entity originally described by Rosai in 1968, characterized by osteoclast-like giant cells and mononuclear stromal cells identical to those seen in bone giant cell tumors. Since then, there have been only a few reports of tumors containing giant cells in other anatomic locations. OGTP can be distinguished from pleomorphic giant cell tumor of the pancreas (PGTP), because of the lack of marked nuclear pleomorphism associated with PGCP. Often a histologically recognizable pancreatic carcinoma accompanies OGTP, leading to a poor outcome. Pure forms of OGTP present a better prognosis because it takes much time to develop metastasis, but these forms are very rare, with only a few cases reported in the English literature. We describe a case of a pure OGTP and discuss the diagnosis of benignity of such tumors based on immunohistochemical evaluation.
