Oncocytes have been described in various tissues and under different circumstances, however, they were rarely encountered in pancreas. This paper wishes to emphasize the frequent presence of oncocytes in human chronic pancreatitis. Three readily distinguishable types of oncocytes were observed: normal oncocytes, condensed oncocytes and cells intermediate with centroacinar cells. The authors suggest that the increased number of oncocytes in chronic pancreatitis may represent a compensatory reaction to an alteration of the ductular system. However, more information is needed for a clear understanding of the significance of oncocytes in human pancreas.

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