Abstract
We retrospectively studied the clinicopathological features of 16 mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) of the pancreas encountered in our hospital. The study group comprised 16 patients (1 male and 15 females) with a median age of 62 years. Six patients were symptomatic, while 10 were asymptomatic. The mean tumor diameter was 54.8 mm. The sites of the 16 lesions were as follows: head of the pancreas, 1 lesion; pancreatic body, 7 lesions; tail of the pancreas, 8 lesions.
On endoscopic ultrasonography, 12 lesions were unilocular, and 4 were multilocular. The internal structure was characterized by the presence of a septae in 6 lesions, a cyst−in−cyst in 6 lesions, hyperechoic foci in 2 lesions, mural nodules in 7 lesions, and calcification in 3 lesions.
Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography showed stenosis of the main pancreatic duct in 11 cases. All patients underwent surgery. Four of the lesions were diagnosed as being carcinomatous. Malignant MCN was associated with a higher median age, larger tumor diameter, and a greater height of the mural nodules than the benign MCNs.
