Squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas: report of a case and review of the literature
Anagnostopoulos, G.K.; Aithal, G.P.; Ragunath, K.; Kaye, P.; Rowlands, B.J.
Jop Journal of the Pancreas 7(1): 47-50
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 1590-8577 PMID: 16407618 Document Number: 600186
Although, squamous metaplasia of the ductal columnar cells can be observed during periods of inflammation, squamous cell pancreatic carcinoma is an extremely rare tumour. We present the case of a 72-year-old man who presented to our hospital with painless obstructive jaundice. After careful and adequate staging investigations that revealed a malignant mass in the head of pancreas he underwent a laparotomy which revealed an inoperable pancreatic cancer. Palliative bypass procedure was done. The biopsy specimens revealed a squamous cell cancer. Pure squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas is a very rare malignancy. In most cases it is not possible to make a pre-operative histological diagnosis and curative resection is unlikely because of dissemination at the time of initial diagnosis or laparotomy.