Pathology and staging of pancreatic cancer

Pathology refers to the careful examination of tissue under a microscope in order to find out whether it's cancerous or non-cancerous and to determine the type of tumour it is. Different types of tumours can affect the pancreas.

Benign tumours

Benign tumours are non-cancerous growths that do not spread to other parts of the body and are not usually life-threatening:

• pancreatic pseudocyst
• serous cystadenoma

Precancerous tumours

Precancerous conditions have the potential to develop into cancer:

• mucinous cystic neoplasm
• intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm
• solid and pseudopapillary neoplasms
• neuroendocrine tumour (islet cell tumour)

Malignant tumours

Malignant tumours are cancerous growths that have the potential to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body):

• ductal adenocarcinoma
• rare malignant tumours
  • neuroendocrine tumour
  • cystadenocarcinoma
  • adenosquamous carcinoma
  • acinar cell carcinoma
  • pleomorphic adenocarcinoma
  • microadenocarcinoma
  • pancreatoblastoma
  • oncocytic carcinoma
  • lymphoma
  • sarcoma

Once the type of tumour has been diagnosed, the doctor will also consider:

• the grade of the tumour (how abnormal the cancer cells look and behave)
• the stage of the cancer (how far the cancer has progressed) and if it has spread
• the progression of the cancer (where it has spread)
• prognostic factors (special characteristics that might influence the course of the disease)
• survival statistics for the particular type and stage of cancer

All of this information helps the doctor make a treatment plan.

See a list of questions to ask your doctor about pathology and staging.