Pancreatic tumors are exocrine or neuroendocrine (endocrine) tumors. This classification is based on the type of cell inside the pancreas that begins to divide uncontrollably. Knowing the type of cancer is important because each type acts differently and responds to different treatments.
About 93% of pancreatic cancers are exocrine cancers. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma.
About 7% of pancreatic cancers are neuroendocrine tumors (pancreatic NETs or PNETs), also called islet cell tumors. They often grow slower than exocrine tumors.