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Abstract Over 5,000 histologically confirmed cases of cancer of the pancreas from the End Results Group of cancer registries have been examined for differences in behavior by epidemiologic and pathologic variables. Thirteen percent had a specific histologic diagnosis other than “adenocarcinoma,” “carcinoma,” or “cancer.” The 92 cases of islet cell carcinoma were unique, having a much younger age at diagnosis (two‐thirds instead of one‐third diagnosed under the age of 60), a locational preference for the body and/or tail (only 40% instead of 70% occurring in the head of the pancreas), and a very favorable survival experience (15 year relative survival of 14%). Of cancers of the exocrine pancreas, the 64 cases with papillary histology were most distinct, two‐thirds being found in women, 18% instead of 10% being localized, and having relatively favorable survival (30% one‐year survival, 5% three‐year survival). Patients whose tumors revealed squamous metaplasia occurred in general at older ages and had unusually poor survival. Analysis by anatomic location showed an increasing percentage of carcinomas occurring in the head of the pancreas with increasing age. Analysis of “adenocarcinomas” by histologic grade indicated that grade may carry some prognostic information not explained by difference in stage. A striking gradient of decreasing survival with increasing age did not explain, and was not explained by survival gradients in other variables.
Baylor et al. (Mon,) studied this question.