Diagnosis and treatment of mutinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: an analysis of 20 cases

Objective To summarize the experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) of the pancreas. Methods The clinical data of 20 cases who were diagnosed as MCN of the pancreas in the affiliated hospital of Qingdao university from January, 2003 to June, 2008 were collected, data including clinical manifestations, pathological features, treatment and survival were analyzed retrospectively. Results The clinical manifestations mainly included abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting; 11 patients had abdominal tenderness, 6 patients had palpable abdominal mass. All the patients underwent ultrasound and CT scan examinations, 13 patients were diagnosed as having benign MCN of the pancreas, 4 were serous cystadenoma, 3 were mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The tumors were located in the body and tail of the pancreas, with a mean diameter of 4 - 14 cm. All the 20 cases received surgical treatment. The procedures mainly included pancreaticoduodenectomy and resection of pancreatic body and tail. Pathological examinations confirmed there were 10 patients with benign MCN of the pancreas, 3 were borderline mucinous cystadenomas and 7 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas. After a mean follow-up of 26 months, patients with benign MCN of the pancreas or borderline mucinous cystadenomas were still alive without recurrence, the three year survival of patients with mucinous cystadenocarcinomas was 50%. Conclusions MCN of the pancreas mainly occurred in female, and there was no specific clinical features, preoperative ultrasound and CT scan examinations could help to diagnose this disease. Surgical resection was the only effective method to cure MCN with good prognosis. Key words: Pancreas neoplasm;  Cystadenoma;  Cystadenocarcinoma