Primary pancreatic carcinoma in childhood. Pancreatoblastoma.

A case of primary pancreatic carcinoma confirmed by postmortem examination in a 15-year-old girl is presented. The tumor was studied by light and electron microscopy and an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Some of the tumor cells contained eosinophilic, PAS-positive, diastase-resistant granules. Electron microscopy revealed large electron-dense granules resembling zymogen granules. The granules seen in the islet cell tumors were not demonstrated by electron microscopy and immunoperoxidase technique. These findings suggest that the tumor is of duct cell origin with some differentiation toward the acinar cells. The tumor appears to belong to the so-called "pancreatoblastoma".