A benign pancreatic tumor composed of beta cells that may obstruct a duct is called what?

A benign pancreatic tumor composed of beta cells that may obstruct a duct is called what?

• A. Adenocarcinoma
• B. Adenoma
• C. Serous cystadenoma
• D. Mucinous cystadenoma

Answer: (B)

Benign tumors from the beta cells of the pancreas come from the endocrine part of the gland (the islets of Langerhans). When such a tumor forms a gland-like nodule, it is typically called an adenoma. This fits a benign, glandular, beta-cell–derived mass, and if it grows large enough it can press on nearby structures like a pancreatic duct, causing obstruction. The other options describe tumors from different tissue types or grades: adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor of exocrine ductal tissue; serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma are cystic epithelial tumors of the exocrine pancreas and not composed of beta cells. So a benign beta-cell tumor is best termed an adenoma. If the tumor is functional (producing hormones like insulin), it’s commonly referred to as an islet cell tumor or insulinoma, but the benign glandular form appropriate to the description is an adenoma.

Benign tumors from the beta cells of the pancreas come from the endocrine part of the gland (the islets of Langerhans). When such a tumor forms a gland-like nodule, it is typically called an adenoma. This fits a benign, glandular, beta-cell–derived mass, and if it grows large enough it can press on nearby structures like a pancreatic duct, causing obstruction. The other options describe tumors from different tissue types or grades: adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor of exocrine ductal tissue; serous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenoma are cystic epithelial tumors of the exocrine pancreas and not composed of beta cells. So a benign beta-cell tumor is best termed an adenoma. If the tumor is functional (producing hormones like insulin), it’s commonly referred to as an islet cell tumor or insulinoma, but the benign glandular form appropriate to the description is an adenoma.