Serous pancreatic neoplasia, data and review

AIM: To describe the imaging features of serous neoplasms of the pancreas using ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: This multicenter international collaboration enhances a literature review to date, reporting features of 287 histologically confirmed cases of serous pancreatic cystic neoplasms (SPNs). RESULTS: Female predominance is seen with most SPNs presenting asymptomatically in the 5th through 7th decade. Mean lesion size was 38.7 mm, 98% were single, 44.2% cystic, 46% mixed cystic and solid, and 94% hypoechoic on B-mode ultrasound. Vascular patterns and contrast-enhancement profiles are described as hypervascular and hyperenhancing. CONCLUSION: The described ultrasound features can aid differentiation of SPN from other neoplastic lesions under most circumstances.