title: Incidental pancreatic cysts on 3D turbo spin echo magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: prevalence and relation with clinical and imaging features.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of incidental pancreatic cysts (IPCs) in asymptomatic patients addressed to magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and to correlate it with clinical and imaging features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography performed over 26-months on 152 patients with unsuspected/unknown pancreatic disease were reviewed to assess IPCs' features of presentation. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation of IPCs with clinical information and type of pancreaticobiliary findings at MRCP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of IPCs was 44.7%. Cysts sized 3-24 mm (mean, 6.08 mm), and were ≤4 in number in 83.8% of patients. Based on number, dimensions and relation with the main pancreatic duct, IPCs presented with intraductal-papillary-mucinous neoplasm (IPMN)-like or indeterminate patterns in 31.7% and 13.1% of patients, respectively. At follow-up on 24 patients, no evolution was found, except in one patient with proven IPMN showing increase in cysts number and dimensions (evolution rate of 4.1%). Features correlating with IPCs were age ≥60 years old, and history of autoimmune hepatobiliary disease, showing odds ratios of 5.95 (95% CI 2.77-12.79) and 0.13 (95% CI 0.04-0.44), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidental pancreatic cysts represent a frequent finding at MRCP, correlating positively with increasing age, and negatively with biliary autoimmune disease. Cysts more frequently present with IPMN-like pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Morphological Research, Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. rgirometti@sirm.org
authors.forename: Rossano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girometti
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Intini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brondani
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Como
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Londero
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bresadola
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuiani
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D033162:Incidental Findings; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine