title: Lymphoepithelial cysts and cystic lymphangiomas: Under-recognized benign cystic lesions of the pancreas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify their diagnostic and prognostic clinical characteristics in a large series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of clinicopathologic and imaging characteristics of patients diagnosed with lymphoepithelial cysts and cystic lymphangiomas of the pancreas at Massachusetts General Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients were identified between 1/1/1997 and 8/1/2007. Their median age was 55.5 years (range 19-78 years), and 6 were females. The lesion was incidentally discovered in half of the patients. Contrast enhanced computed tomography demonstrated that the cysts had thin walls, without calcifications, pancreatic duct dilation or pancreatic parenchyma invasion. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS/FNA) confirmed the diagnosis of a lymphoepithelial cyst in 3 patients, one of whom was spared an operation and continues to do well after 6 years. Eleven patients had a resection: 3 pancreaticoduodenectomies, 7 distal pancreatectomies, and 1 enucleation. The median size of the cysts was 3 cm (range 2-20 cm). At a median follow-up of 57 mo no recurrences or other pancreas-related conditions occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphoepithelial cysts and cystic lymphangiomas of the pancreas can be diagnosed with a combination of contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans and EUS/FNA. If the lesion is asymptomatic, an operation might be avoided.
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Ioannis T
authors: IT
authors: Konstantinidis
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Avinash
authors: A
authors: Kambadakone
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Onofrio A
authors: OA
authors: Catalano
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Dushyant V
authors: DV
authors: Sahani
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Vikram
authors: V
authors: Deshpande
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Forcione
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Wargo
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Fernandez-Del Castillo
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Keith D
authors: KD
authors: Lillemoe
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Andrew L
authors: AL
authors: Warshaw
authors: Ioannis T Konstantinidis, Jennifer A Wargo, Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Keith D Lillemoe, Andrew L Warshaw, Cristina R Ferrone, Departments of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors: Cristina R
authors: CR
authors: Ferrone
keywords: Asymptomatic cysts; Benign cystic lesions of the pancreas; Cystic lymphangiomas; Lymphoepithelial cysts; Pancreas