title: Left-sided pancreatic incidentalomas treated with laparoscopic approach: a report of 20 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diffusion of cross-sectional imaging has recently permitted the detection of an increasing number of incidentalomas localized in the distal pancreas. Currently, there are no studies in the literature exploring the laparoscopic approach as treatment for left-sided pancreatic incidentalomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report a series of 20 incidentalomas localized in the body and tail of the pancreas treated with laparoscopic surgery over the period 2010-2014. The incidental masses of our series included a great variety of histotypes and a relevant proportion of malignant lesions. In two cases, the laparoscopic procedures were converted to open surgery. No postoperative death was observed. The postoperative pancreatic fistula rate was 20 %, and the new-onset diabetes rate was 25 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Left-sided pancreatic incidentalomas in patients with minor comorbidities can be safely treated with laparoscopic approach. Only clinical trials will confirm whether laparoscopic surgery is an effective treatment for malignant lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ospedale Alessandro Manzoni, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Istituto Clinico Humanitas Mater Domini, Castellanza, VA, Italy.
authors.forename: Martino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ospedale Alessandro Manzoni, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ospedale Alessandro Manzoni, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, Istituti Clinici Zucchi, Via Zucchi, Monza, MB, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guttadauro
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, Istituti Clinici Zucchi, Via Zucchi, Monza, MB, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ospedale Alessandro Manzoni, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marando
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. ugo.cioffi@guest.unimi.it.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cioffi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061887:Conversion to Open Surgery; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D061646:Operative Time; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010185:Pancreatic Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Distal pancreatectomy; Laparoscopic surgery; Pancreas; Pancreatic incidentaloma