Background/Aims:
@EN Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are rare tumors and constitute less than 15% of all pancreatic cystic lesions. They are easily mistaken for pseudocysts which are more commonly encountered in clinical practice.
@ES Methods:
@EN Thirty patients managed surgically for pancreatic cystic neoplasms at our institution were clinically reviewed.
@ES Results:
@EN There were 11 mucinous cystadenomas, 6 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 9 serous cystadenomas including 2 macrocystic variants and 4 papillary cystic neoplasms. Eighty percents of the patients were females. The most prominant symptom was upper
abdominal pain. All patients had undergone imaging studies; abdominal ultrasonography and/or computed tomography. The sensitivities of both studies were 41.7% and 58.6%, respectively. In nineteen patients, cystic fluid was obtained either
preoperatively
or intraoperatively, and was analysed in terms of amylase level and cytologic examinations, and in thirteen patients, CEA levels too. Mucinous cystic neoplasms tended to have higher levels of CEA compared to serous cystadenomas and papillary
cystic
neoplasms. Operations were performed according to the locations of the lesions and patient's conditions. Radical operations had been performed in twenty-one patients. After a mean follow-up period of 23.5 months, twenty-one patients had no
evidence
of
disease or recurrence, sixpatients were stationary, and three patients had expired.
@ES Conclusion:
@EN Pancreatic cystic neoplasms should be consider4ed as a possible diagnosis in patients with cystic lesions of the pancreas, and resected whenever possible. (Korean J Gastroenterol 1995; 27: 110-119)
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