Pancreatic cysts or pancreatic cystic neoplasms? An analysis of 145 cases.

Introduction Frequency of detection of pancreatic cystic lesions increased recent years. The majorities are pseudocysts, the remaining cysts are mainly neoplasms. Proven risk of malignancy affects intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN). Material and methods 145 patients operated on at the Department of General and Transplant Surgery in Barlicki Hospital in Lodz, Poland, in 2007-2016 due to pancreatic cystic lesion. The type of surgery, histopathological diagnosis and basic demographic data were analyzed. Results Nonneoplastic cyst (mainly pseudocysts) was found in 66.9% of patients, neoplasms were detected in 33.1%. The mean age was significantly higher in patients with neoplasms than without neoplasm (57.06 years vs. 50.88 years, p = 0.009). Neoplastic cyst occurred more frequently in women (68.75% of women, 31.25% of men, p = 0.001), Nonneoplastic cyst was found significantly more often in men (64.95% of men, 35.05% of women, p = 0.001). Malignant tumor was found in 14.58% of neoplasms cases. Pancreatic resections in neoplastic cysts were performed in 77,08%. In patients with nonneoplastic cysts drainage operations were performed most frequently (80.41%). Conclusions Neoplastic cysts are more common in women. The average age in the group of patients with neoplasms is higher than in the group with nonneoplastic cysts. In women with pancreatic cystic lesion without history for pancreatitis, the probability of neoplasms diagnosis is high. Discussion Pancreatic cystic tumors are treated radically due to the lack of sufficiently sensitive and specific pre-operative examinations. The natural history of mucinous neoplasms (IPMN and MCN) ranges from dysplasia to cancer. There are no guidelines that could be in satisfactory way used in follow up patients with pancreatic cysts.