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Virchows Archiv
Published in: Virchows Archiv 2/2022

Open Access 01-02-2022 | Neuroendocrine Tumor | Review and Perspectives

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas: diagnosis and pitfalls

Authors: Björn Konukiewitz, Moritz Jesinghaus, Atsuko Kasajima, Günter Klöppel

Published in: Virchows Archiv | Issue 2/2022

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Abstract

Common to neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas is their expression of synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and/or INSM1. They differ, however, in their histological differentiation and molecular profile. Three groups can be distinguished: well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (neuroendocrine tumors), poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (neuroendocrine carcinomas), and mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms. However, the expression of synaptophysin and, to a lesser extent, also chromogranin A is not restricted to the neuroendocrine neoplasms, but may also be in a subset of non-neuroendocrine epithelial and non-epithelial neoplasms. This review provides the essential criteria for the diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms including diagnostic clues for the distinction of high-grade neuroendocrine tumors from neuroendocrine carcinomas and an algorithm avoiding diagnostic pitfalls in the delineation of non-neuroendocrine neoplasms with neuroendocrine features from pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.
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Metadata
Title
Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the pancreas: diagnosis and pitfalls
Authors
Björn Konukiewitz
Moritz Jesinghaus
Atsuko Kasajima
Günter Klöppel
Publication date
01-02-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Virchows Archiv / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 0945-6317
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2307
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-021-03211-5

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