title: The usefulness of a multidisciplinary team approach in decision making for pancreatic serous cystic neoplasms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are regarded as benign entities with rare malignant potential and are frequently resected.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach in decision making regarding the diagnosis and management of pancreatic serous cystic neoplasms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of a prospective database involving 43 patients with serous cystic neoplasms was carried out. Patients who underwent multidisciplinary team evaluation (Group 1) were compared with patients who did not (Group 2) as regards demographic, clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological data. Uni-multivariate analyses were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uni-multivariate analysis showed that a multidisciplinary team approach was significantly related to the type of management, suggesting that MDT evaluation independently reduced the odds of surgery (odds ratio (OR) 0.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02-0.8; P=0.027). Age, second level imaging techniques, latero-lateral diameter, cranio-caudal diameter and Wirsung duct size differed between the two groups; however, the differences were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidisciplinary team approach seems to be useful in proper decision making regarding the diagnosis and management of pancreatic serous cystic neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi. Bologna, Italy. riccardo.casadei@aosp.bo.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casadei
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taffurelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ingaldi
authors.forename: Marielda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Ambra
authors.forename: Carlo Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pacilio
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calculli
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minni