CLINICAL REPORTS   

Chirurgia 2001 December;14(6):233-4

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas. A case report

Adani G. L., Marcello D., Carrella G., Maestroni U., Pozza E., Ascanelli S., Turini A.

Mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are an uncommon primary tumors, that typically affect middle-aged women. They have pathologic and clinical similarities to mucinous cystic tumors of the ovary and biliary cystadenomas of the liver. They can be considered slowly growing and less-aggressive carcinoma with a favorable prognosis. The majority of patients with these tumors have resectable disease and a favorable prognosis. All mucinous cystic neoplasms should be considered as mucinous cystadenocarcinomas of low-grade malignant potential. In most cases, ultrasound and computed tomography are the mainstays for radiologic evaluation, with magnetic resonance imaging having a complementary role. There is a spectrum of radiologic findings that overlaps with those of other entities including pancreatic pseudocyst, other primary epithelial and nonepithelial tumors of the pancreas, and metastases. Complete surgical excision results in an excellent clinical outcome and disease-free survival in over 90% of cases studied. The case of a patient, a 31-year-old woman, with cystic neoplasm of the pancreas, without metastases, treated with surgical excision, is reported.