Operative indication for serous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas

-The Evaluation of our 12 resected patients-

Abstract

Nonsurgical management is usually recommended for serous cystic neoplasm of pancreas which is an uncommon benign tumor. However, resection is carried out for patients with symptoms or massive tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the operative indication for serous cystic neoplasm based on the clinicopathological characteristics of our 12 resected patients. The mean age was 63 years, and 9 patients were female. Three patients were symptomatic. The tumor was located at head of the pancreas in 5 patients, body in 3 patients, and tail in 4 patients. Mean tumor diameter was 6.9cm, and tumor growth was found in 6 patients. Stenosis or dilatation of main pancreatic duct was observed in 6 patients. Of the 6 patients, the minimum tumor diameter was 4.0cm. Patients were pathologically diagnosed as microcystic type in 10 patients and macrocystic type in 2 patients. There was one patient diagnosed with serous cystadenocarcinoma with liver metastasis and invasion of the transvers colon. Based on these results, surgical resection for serous cystic neoplasm is recommended for patients with tumors larger than 4cm, because these patients have symptoms, and stenosis or dilatation of the main pancreatic duct.