Pancreatic Calcifications in Malignant Islet Cell Tumors

Abstract

Of 623 [human] cases of malignant pancreatic tumor seen over the last 30 yr, 23 cases of malignant islet cell tumor were found (8 additional cases were found in the literature). Calcification, found in 2 of these cases, was characteristically discrete and nodular (calcifications found in chronic pancreatitis are typically diffuse, multiple and punctuate). At least 7 of the 10 cases of islet cell tumor with calcification were malignant. Slow growth of the tumor, with calcified metastases, suggests the diagnosis of malignancy. This combination of findings was established in 3 cases. In 73 cases of benign islet cell tumor, no calcifications were found.