Cancerous tumours of the pancreas
A cancerous tumour of the pancreas can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it. The tumour can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancerous tumours are also called malignant tumours.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. It makes up about 85% to 95% of all pancreatic cancer cases. PDAC starts in ductal cells, which are the exocrine cells that line the inner walls of the pancreatic ducts. Most cases of PDAC start in the head of the pancreas, but they can also occur in the body or tail.
There are 2 main subtypes of PDAC that are categorized by the patterns of gene expression and different types of mutations in the cancer cells:
- classical
- squamous- or basal-like
The classical subtype of PDAC typically has a better prognosis than the basal-like subtype.
PDAC is an aggressive cancer. It typically grows quickly and has usually spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) by the time it is diagnosed.
Neuroendocrine tumours
Neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas (pancreatic NETs, or pNETs) start in the endocrine cells of the pancreas. They make up about 2% to 7% of all pancreatic cancers. They are sometimes called islet cell tumours.
Find out more about neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas.
Rare pancreatic tumours
Rare cancerous tumours of the pancreas include:
- acinar cell carcinoma
-
squamous cell carcinoma - adenosquamous carcinoma
- colloid non-cystic adenocarcinoma
- small cell carcinoma
-
sarcoma -
lymphoma - pancreatoblastoma
- giant cell carcinoma (also called pleomorphic adenocarcinoma)
- hepatoid carcinoma
- signet ring carcinoma
- medullary carcinoma
Each of these types of tumours makes up a very small number of all cases of pancreatic cancer.
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