J Korean Radiol Soc.  1989 Feb;25(1):66-74. 10.3348/jkrs.1989.25.1.66.

Cystic tumor and pseudocyst of the pancreas: Radiological differentiation

• Oh JH
• Lee DH
• Ko YT
• Yoon Y
• Lim JH

• KMID: 2383152
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1989.25.1.66

Abstract

By far the most common cystic lesion of the pancreas is the inflammatory pseudocyst. Among the true cysts, themucinous neoplasm is unique because of its proliferative nature and the potential for carcinomatous degeneration.Hence, establishment of the diagnosis prior to surgical exploration is of great importance. The imagingcharacteristics of ultrasonography and CT are particularly useful in the preoperative differentiation of mucinouscystic neoplasms from pseudocysts of the pancreas. This repost describes the ultrasonographic and computedtomographic findings of eight mucinous neoplasms(three cystadenoma, five cystadenocarcinoma) and twenty fourpseudocysts. Mucinous cystadenomas are well-defined large multilocular cystic masses conntaining irregular thickspeta, solid components and locally thickned wall. Sonogarphic and computed tomographic findings ofcystadenocarcinomas are similar to those of cystadenoma, but cystadenocarcinomas frequently show dauhter cystsalong the primary cystic wall, locally invasion and distant metastasis. Pseudocysts are unilocular cystic masseswhich walls are uniform in whidth, containing many debris within the cysts and are often located atextrapancreatic areas.

MeSH Terms

Cystadenocarcinoma
Cystadenoma
Cystadenoma, Mucinous
Diagnosis
Mucins
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pancreas*
Ultrasonography
Mucins