title: Imaging of cystic diseases of the pancreas.
abstract: Although the majority of cystic lesions of the pancreas seen in clinical practice represent postinflammatory pseudocysts, it is important for the radiologist to be knowledgeable of the wide spectrum of cystic masses of the pancreas and the variable prognoses they possess. As a result of similarities in the imaging features of these lesions, a definitive diagnosis is often not possible. By combining imaging features with clinical history, a reasonable differential diagnosis can be offered to the referring physician. In some cases, biopsy or fluid aspiration may be required prior to surgery. In a patient without the appropriate history of pancreatitis and the presence of a cystic pancreatic mass, it is incumbent upon the radiologist to offer alternative diagnoses of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair, Suite 800, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography