Should all mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) of the pancreas be resected?: Review from three guidelines and large retrospective studies

Abstract

Three clinical guidelines and large retrospective studies were reviewed regarding a clinical question "Should all MCNs of the pancreas be resected?". IAP guidelines and European consensus statements proposed different treatments for IAP and MCN, while AGA guidelines do not clinically differentiate IPMN and MCN and treat as one entity. IAP proposed resection for MCNs once diagnosed preoperatively, while AGA guidelines and European consensus statements proposed different management for MCN based on the malignant indicators. Malignant predictors include symptomatic factors, tumor markers, cyst size, mural nodule, dilated main pancreatic duct. Some large retrospective studies propose resection for all MCNs and others perform operative indications based on the malignant predictors. In this review, the management of MCN was reviewed based on three clinical guidelines and large retrospective studies.