Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Definition
-
Microscopic noninvasive epithelial neoplasm arising in the pancreatic ducts
Alternate/Historical Names
- Pancreatic intraepithelial lesion (sometimes used for grade 1 or 2 lesions)
- PanIN
Diagnostic Criteria
- Microscopic finding
- Not grossly visible
- Usually involves ducts <5 mm in diameter
- Measure largest cross-section from basement membrane
- Do not include periductal lesions or fibrosis
- Measure entire duct even if only partially involved
- Involved ducts >5 mm may be due to obstruction
- Lined by columnar to cuboidal mucinous cells
- Mucin may be depleted in high grade lesions
- Varying degrees of cytologic atypia and architectural complexity
- See Grading
Reetesh Pai MD
Department of Pathology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford CA 94305-5342
Original posting : February 1, 2007
