title: Serous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas: report of a case and management reflections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serous adenomas represent 1-2% of pancreatic neoplasms and typically are asymptomatic not requiring any treatment and simple observation is the option of choice. Although, they carry a realistic risk of malignancy despite the general view that they never become malignant. We report a case, which, according to our best knowledge is the 27th case reported in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the literature by performing a search in Pub Med and Medline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 86-year old patient known to have a serous cystadenoma of the pancreas treated conservatively through a close clinical and radiological follow up which was unattended for 4 years ending up to our emergency department suffering an acute abdomen. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a perforated prepyloric ulcer which was treated accordingly. Patient died some weeks later due to severe medical co morbidities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas carry a realistic risk of malignancy despite the general view that they never become malignant. In our opinion the treatment strategy of serous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas should be aggressive even in cases of remote metastases since prognosis of the disease is satisfactory.
authors.affiliation: LAIKON Hospital, First Department of Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bramis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papalambros
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manzelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mantonakis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Felekouras
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D019468:Disease Management; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*