Multidisciplinary management strategy for incidental cystic lesions of the pancreas.
BACKGROUND
At our institution, incidental pancreatic cysts are frequently identified in asymptomatic patients undergoing routine imaging for staging of nonpancreatic malignancies. Management of these patients is unclear because a small but significant number of incidental pancreatic cysts are malignant.


METHODS
Our institutional database was reviewed for patients with ICD-9 codes for pancreatic cysts from 1980 to 2005. Clinicopathologic factors, including CT and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) characteristics and management strategies, were analyzed.


RESULTS
Over 25 years, 942 patients were identified with pancreatic cysts. Excluding those with symptoms or pseudocysts, 350 patients remained with incidental pancreatic cysts. Mean overall survival was 41.4 months (mean follow-up 32.7 months). Forty-one patients underwent resection, of whom 38 (92.7%) had premalignant or malignant pathology. Univariate analysis of variables predicting pathologic premalignant or malignant diagnosis identified pancreatic neck or body location as significant factors.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that most incidental pancreatic cysts can be managed nonoperatively using a selective strategy based on detailed review of CT imaging and EUS findings.
Bose
Debashish
D
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Tamm
Eric
E
Liu
Jun
J
Marcal
Leonardo
L
Balachandran
Aparna
A
Bhosale
Priya
P
Fleming
Jason B
JB
Lee
Jeffrey E
JE
Evans
Douglas B
DB
Hwang
Rosa F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult