title: The spectrum of cystic masses of the pancreas: imaging features and diagnostic difficulties.
abstract: Cystic masses of the pancreas comprise a diverse group of pathologic entities ranging from pseudocysts to cystic tumors. Although their presentations may be similar, the appropriate treatment and patient management can differ greatly. There is an overlap in radiologic features, but the clinical context and some imaging findings are useful in differentiating among these entities; the differential diagnosis could be considerably reduced and it is generally possible to reach the correct diagnosis. In this article, we review imaging characteristics and radiologic patterns of both common and uncommon cystic masses of the pancreas. An algorithmic approach for the management of cystic pancreatic lesions is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Santiago de Compostela 15706, Spain. roberto.garcia.figueiras@sergas.es
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García Figueiras
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villalba Martín
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García Figueiras
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otero Echart
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Requejo Isidro
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pazos González
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosario
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media