Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma

A 47 year-old male with chronic hepatitis B, had progressive elevated alpha-fetoprotein in two years. A pancreatic tail tumor, instead of liver tumor, was detected. He underwent elective distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy and the pathology turned out to be an acinar cell carcinoma of pancreas. Serum level of alpha-fetoprotein returned to normal soon after surgery. No cancer recurrence was noted after follow-up for 3 years. Alpha -fetoprotein is commonly used as a tumor marker to screen hepatocellular carcinoma in high-risk patients. However, elevated alpha-fetoprotein could take place in a much rarer disease, acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas