Medical expert of the article
New publications
Pancreatic sarcoma
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Pancreatic sarcoma is extremely rare; to date, about 200 cases of pancreatic sarcoma have been described in specialized medical literature (according to the combined statistics of a number of authors). The initial tumor substrate may be any non-epithelial cells of the pancreas (stroma, vessels, ducts), but spindle-shaped or polymorphic cell sarcomas predominate among them, and giant cell, lympho- and reticulosarcomas are less common.
[ Symptoms of pancreatic sarcoma
The clinical manifestations of sarcoma are similar to those of pancreatic cancer, but sarcomas occur more often at an earlier age.
Diagnosis of pancreatic sarcoma
The main diagnostic methods are ultrasound and CT; if necessary, angiography and ERCP are used. In recent years, a tumor node puncture has been performed under ultrasound or CT control; with subsequent histological and cytological examination of biopsies, the diagnosis becomes clearer.
For an accurate assessment of the size of the primary tumor and the degree of metastasis, it is recommended to use the international TNM classification. T - tumor, a tumor in accordance with its size, presence and degree of invasion of adjacent tissues is designated by symbols from T1 to T4. N - metastases to regional lymph nodes - from N0 to N3. M - distant metastases, their presence and degree of prevalence are designated by symbols from M0 to M2. This classification, due to its specificity, is convenient for both a therapist, an oncologist and a surgeon to determine the possibility of surgical treatment and prognosis.
What do need to examine?
Treatment of pancreatic sarcoma
Treatment of pancreatic sarcoma is only surgical, which, unfortunately, is not possible in all cases; if surgery is not possible, treatment is symptomatic.
Prognosis for pancreatic sarcoma
In most cases, the course of sarcomas is on average faster than cancer; complications are the same as in pancreatic cancer. Without treatment, the prognosis is poor.