Surgical treatment of pleomorphic carcinoma of the pancreas.

Pleomorphic carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare malignancy that carries a poor prognosis. This case describes a patient with a pleomorphic carcinoma of the head of the pancreas, cured by a pylorus sparing pancreaticoduodenectomy. The literature is reviewed with emphasis on the surgical cures reported. The giant cell variety of pleomorphic carcinoma may carry a better prognosis. Pleomorphic histology of pancreatic neoplasms is not a contraindication for surgical resection.