Cytologic examination of pancreatic juice for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas.
BACKGROUND
A new clinical type of pancreatic tumor, the mucin-producing tumor, has been recognized recently. However, it is not always easy to distinguish benign from malignant tumors preoperatively. In this study, three different methods of differentiating mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas were compared.


METHODS
Endoscopic ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, and cytologic examination of pancreatic juice were performed in 14 patients who had mucin-producing pancreatic tumors (11 carcinomas and 3 adenomas). Pancreatic juice was collected endoscopically without papillotomy.


RESULTS
The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography were 82%, 90%, and 79%, respectively; those of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography were 91%, 91%, and 86%; and those of cytologic examination were 91%, 100%, and 93%.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytologic examination of pancreatic juice was the best of these three methods for differentiating benign from malignant mucin-producing pancreatic tumors.
Uehara
H
H
Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
Nakaizumi
A
A
Iishi
H
H
Tatsuta
M
M
Kitamra
T
T
Okuda
S
S
Ohigashi
H
H
Ishikawa
O
O
Takenaka
A
A
Ishiguro
S
S
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010189:Pancreatic Juice / Q000166:cytology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography