Maspin expression in adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: relation with clinicopathological parameters and apoptosis.

Aim: Maspin is a unique serine proteinase inhibitor which has tumor suppressor activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of maspin in ampullary adenocarcinomas, its correlation with apoptosis and its value as a prognostic marker.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-three cases of ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma were collected from archival material.

Three cases of pancreatic serous cystadenoma and endocrine tumour.

Aims: To report three cases of serous cystadenoma and endocrine tumour in the same pancreas, to review the literature and to evaluate the clinicopathological features of the tumours.

Cases: Three women (71, 57 and 31 years old) were admitted to hospital, two for diseases unrelated to the pancreas and the third for increasing obstructive jaundice in von Hippel-Lindau disease. Preoperative examination showed two distinct lesions in the first patient and only cystic lesions in the other two.