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World J Gastrointest Surg. Oct 27, 2010; 2(10): 331-336
Published online Oct 27, 2010. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v2.i10.331
Differentiating intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms from other pancreatic cystic lesions
Steven C Cunningham, Ralph H Hruban, Richard D Schulick
Steven C Cunningham, Richard D Schulick, Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, United States
Ralph H Hruban, Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, United States
Author contributions: Cunningham SC and Hruban RH wrote and revised the manuscript; Hruban RH performed the pathological examination; Schulick RD oversight the project and revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Richard D Schulick, MD, FACS, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Blalock 685, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. rschulick@jhmi.edu
Telephone: +1-410-6149879 Fax: +1-410-6149882
Received: May 18, 2010
Revised: September 21, 2010
Accepted: September 28, 2010
Published online: October 27, 2010
Abstract

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) can be difficult to distinguish from other cystic lesions of the pancreas. To understand better and discuss the current knowledge on this topic, the literature and the institutional experience at a large pancreatic disease center have been reviewed. A combination of preoperative demographic, historical, radiographic, laboratory data, as well as postoperative pathologic analyses can often distinguish IPMN from other lesions in the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, Pancreatic cyst, Differential diagnosis, Pancreas cancer