Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: A diagnostic challenge

Table 1 Histological classification of pancreatic cysts

	Histologic classification
Serous cystic tumors	SCA
	Serous cystadenocarcinoma (rare)
	Mucinous cystadenoma
	Mucinous cystadenoma with moderate dysplasia
Mucinous cystic tumors	Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma
	Noninfiltrating
	Infiltrating
Intraductal papillary mucinous tumors	Intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma
	IPMN with moderate dysplasia
	Intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma
	Noninfiltrating
	Infiltrating
Solid pseudopapillary tumors

Table 2 Typical characteristics of pancreatic cystic lesions

Cyst type	Pseudocyst	SCA	MCN	IPMN	SPN
Age	Variable	Middle-aged	Middle-aged	Elderly	Young
Sex	M > F	F > M	Female	M > F	Female
Pancreatitis history1	Yes	No	No	Yes2	No
Location	Evenly	Evenly	Body/tail	Head	Evenly
Malignant potential	None	Rarely	Moderate to high	Low to high	Low
Biliary obstruction	Yes, Uncommon	No	No	Yes, Uncommon	No

SCA: Serous cystadenoma; MCN: Mucinous cystic neoplasm; IPMN: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm; SPN: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm.

¹A history of pancreatitis episodes and pancreatic risk factors including alcohol abuse, gallstones and complications, or family history of pancreatitis is often given;

²Pancreatitis due to IPMN is predominately of the main pancreatic duct subtype.