Abstract
Nerve invasion is one of the biological features of pancreatic cancer, and its mechanism remains to be determined. In this paper, we report on 37 pancreatic cancer specimens observed by immunohistochemical and electron microscopical techniques. The results showed that pancreatic cancer directly invaded and destroyed the perineurium. At the early stage of disease, the peripheral nerve and synaptic membrane were easily destroyed by cancer cells, and invasion and metastasis continuously advanced along the perineural space and central side of nerves. These results suggest that the soft tissue and nerve plexus on the dorsal region of the pancreas may contribute to the recurrence of pancreatic cancer after duodenopancreatectomy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Miyazaki I, Ueno K, Nagakawa T (1990) Japan present status of pancreas cancers treatment (in Japanese). Oper 4:1411–1417
Namimatsu S (1992) Periodic acid thiosemicarbazide gelatin methenamine silver (PATSC-GMS) staining for transmission electron microsopy. J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol 24:19–28
Nagakawa T, Kayahara M, Ueno K, Ohta T, Konishi I, Ueda N, Miyazaki I (1992) A clinicopathologic study on neural invasion in cancer of the pancreatic head. Cancer 69:930–935
Nagakawa T, Mori K, Nakano T, Kadoya M, Kobayashi H, Akiyama T, Kayahara M, Ohta T, Ueno K, Higashino Y, Konishi I, Miyazaki I (1993) Perineural invasion of carcinoma of the pancreas and biliary tract Br J Surg 80:619–621
Kayahara M (1988) Clinicopathological and experimental studies on the spread of the pancreatic cancer—neural invasion in the extra-pancreatic plexus Jpn J Gastroenterol Surg 21:1363–1372
Okamoto M, Nakamura Y, Imaizumi M (1968) Nerve endings structure Saishin Igaku (Saishin Igaku-sha) 23:2240–2251
Magari S (1991) Extravascular pathway and the lymphatics with special reference to the perineural infilt ation of panereatic cancer (in Japanese). J Biliary Tract Pancreas 12:121–127
Kayahara M, Nagakawa T, Miyazaki I (1995) Spreading pattern of pancreatic cancer. Surgery 57:272–277
Nagakawa T, Kayahara M, Ohta T, Ueno K, Konishi I, Miyazaki I (1991) Patterns of neural and plexus invasion of human pancreatic cancer and experimental cancer. Int J Pancreatol 10:113–119
Ueno K, Tuchihara K, Yoshimitsu Y, Suzaki Y, Takeda T, Mori K, Kobayasbi H, Kayahara M, Ohta T, Nagakawa T, Miyazaki I (1994) Progress of preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic tumor especially about extension of pancreatic cancer. Jpn J Clin Pathol 42:105–110
Hiraka T, Kamimoto Y, Kanamitsu K, Tsuji T, Nishida E (1994) Nerve excision and preservation in the duodeno-pancreatectomy of pancreatic cancer (in Japanese). Oper 18:1163–1168
Nagayo T, Murakami N, Matsuoka Y (1976) Invasion of the peripheral nerves by gall bladder, bile duct and pancreatic duct. Jpn J Cancer Clin 22:1406–1409
Bockman DE, Buchler M, Beger HG (1994) Interaction of pancreatic ductal careinoma with nerves leads to nerve damage Gastroenterology 107:219–230
Pour PM, Egami H, Takiyama Y (1991) Patterns of growth and metastases of induced pancreatic cancer in relation to the prognosis and its clinical implications. Gastroenterology 100:529–536
Dang C, Qin Z, Ji Z, Li Y, Zhao J, Takashi E, Naito Z, Yokoyama M, Asano G (1997) Morphological characteristics and clinical significance of nerve distribution in pancreatic cancers. J Nippon Med Seh 64:15–20
Bock P, Hanak H (1971) Die verteilung exogener peroxydase im endoneuralraum. Histochemistry 25:361–371
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dang, C., Takashi, E., Guo, F. et al. Ultrastructural study of the mechanism of perineural extension in pancreatic cancer. Med Electron Microsc 31, 31–37 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547946
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547946