Pathological findings of the pancreatic cystic lesions

Abstract

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are being identified with increasing frequency. Cystic lesions are roughly classified into epithelial cells' lined cysts and cystic degenerative lesions, and each includes non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. The former includes retention cyst, serous cystic neoplasms (SCNs), mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), lymphoepithelial cysts and others, and the later includes pseudocysts, solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) and several solid tumors showing degenerative change and cystic formation. Cystic neoplasms include benign to malignant neoplasms. It is important to recognize these before invasive carcinoma develops, especially in MCNs and IPMNs. The histologic types and clinicopathological features of major cystic lesions are discussed.