Cystadenoma of the pancreas: a histological, histochemical and ultrastructural study of seven cases

Abstract
Seven cases of cystadenoma of the pancreas were examined in detail histologically and histochemically and two variants were identified: a microcyst type lined by glycogen‐rich cuboidal epithelium which also secretes some neutral mucins; and macrocystic type lined exclusively by mucus‐secreting columnar cells which secrete predominantly sulphated acidic mucins with some neutral mucins. Electron microscopy of two cases of the microcystic variant showed neoplastic cells with an ultrastructure comparable to that of centroacinar cells of the normal exocrine pancreas.