Types of pancreatic cancer

There are different types of cells in the pancreas. Knowing the cell type and where in the pancreas the cancer started helps your doctor plan the best treatment for you.

Cancer can start in the head, body or tail of the pancreas. The wide end of the pancreas is called the head. The thin end is called the tail. The bit in the middle is called the body.

Between 60 and 70 out of 100 pancreatic cancers (between 60 to 70%) start in the head of the pancreas. 

Exocrine pancreatic cancers

Most pancreatic cancers are the exocrine type. This means that they start in cells that produce pancreatic digestive juices.

Adenocarcinomas

More than 80 out of 100 exocrine pancreatic cancers (more than 80%) are adenocarcinomas. Nearly all of these are ductal adenocarcinomas. They start in the cells lining the ducts of the pancreas.

Cancer of the acinar cells

The acinar cells are at the ends of the ducts that produce pancreatic juices. These tumours are generally diagnosed in people at a younger age than adenocarcinomas. This type of cancer is slower growing. They also tend to have a better outlook (prognosis) than adenocarcinomas. 

Cystic tumours

Cystic tumours cause a cyst or fluid filled sac in the pancreas. Most pancreatic cysts are not cancerous (they are benign). Some cystic tumours can turn into cancerous (malignant) tumours.

There are different types of cystic tumours, including:

• mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN)
• intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN)
• pancreatic intraepithelial lesions (PanIN)
• solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN)

Generally, you may have surgery to remove these types of tumours. Or you may have regular tests to monitor them (surveillance).

Cystic cancers can have a better outlook (prognosis) than other types of exocrine pancreatic cancer.

Endocrine pancreatic tumours

Endocrine tumours are uncommon. They start in the endocrine pancreas. This is where insulin and other hormones are made and released into the bloodstream. They are also called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETS) or islet cell tumours.

Other types of pancreatic cancer

There are other rare types of cancer of the pancreas. They are treated differently to the more common types of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatoblastoma

These very rare tumours mainly occur in children. They are sometimes linked with rare genetic conditions. This includes Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

Sarcomas of the pancreas

These are cancers of the connective tissue that hold together the cells of the pancreas. They are extremely rare.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. As the lymphatic system runs throughout the body, these tumours can develop in any part of the body.