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Print Date: May 19, 2013, 8:07 pm
TitleMucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Pancreas
TextMucinous Csytic Neoplasm of the Pancreas; AKA-macrocystic adenoma, mucinous cystadenoma, cystadenocarcinoma.

Frequency- 10% of pancreatic cysts, 1% of pancreatic neoplasms

Mean Age- 50 years ( 20-95 ), 50% between 40-60 years old
M:F 1:19

Pathology: Large smooth round/lobulated multiloculated cystic mass encapsulated by a layer of fibrous connective tissue

Histology: similar to biliary and ovarian mucinous tumors; cysts lined by tall columnar, mucin-producing cells subtended by a densely cellular mesenchymal stroma (reminiscent of ovarian stroma), often in papillary arrangement

Location: often in the tail (90%), body, infrequently in head

-well-demarcated thick-walled mass, mean 10-12 cm
-multi/unilocular large cyss >2 cm with thin septa <2 mm
* a tumor with <6 cysts of >2 cm in diameter is in 93-95% a mucinous cystic neoplasm
-amorphous discontinuous peripheral mural calcifications (10-15%)
-solid papillary excresences protrude into the interior of the tumor
-hypovascular mass with sparse neovascularity
-great propensity for invasion of adjacent organs
U/S: -cysts may contain low level echoes; echogenic mural calcifications if present
CT: -internal septations may not be seen without contrast enhancement; cysts with HU of water, different cysts with different HU's; enhance of cyst walls
MRI: -high T2 from mucinous component
Angio: -predominantly avascular mass, small area of blush in cyst wall and solid components, mass effect on adjacent arteries and veins by cysts
Mets: -round thick walled cystic lesions in the liver
Prognosis: -invariable transformation into cystadenocarcinoma
Rx: -complete surgical excision, 5 yr survival is 74-90%
DDx: pseudocyst, lymphangioma/hemangioma, variants of ductal adenocarcinoma, solid and cystic papillary epithelioid neoplasm, cystic islet cell tumor, cystic met, atypical serous cystadenoma, sarcoma, infection (amebiasis, echinococcus0
References:Radiology Review Manual, Dahnert, W., MD, 4th Edition, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Stark, D., and Bradley, W., 3rd Edition,
ContributorAndrew E Simays, MD (Naval Medical Center San Diego)
Peer ReviewerJames G. Smirniotopoulos, M.D. (Uniformed Services University)
Record Number : 1576
Created2001-03-29 19:25:04-05
Modified2004-06-10 23:24:22-04
Category:Neoplasm, malignant (NOS)
Location:Gastrointestinal
Sublocation:Pancreas
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