Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas with mucin-production

Aim. To compare the clinico-pathotogicat features of intraductal papillary mucinous cystic tumours (IPMT) and mucinous cystic tumours (MCT) of the pancreas. Methods. Eighteen patients with IPMT and 18 with MCT who underwent surgical resection between 1990 and 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinicopathological features were compared using univariate analysis. Statistical analyses of potential predictive factors of malignancy for each of these two groups were also conducted. Results. Patients with IPMT were found to be older (64 +/- 10 vs 43 +/- 18 years, p < 0.001) and were predominantly mate (male:female ratio, 5:4 vs 1:17, p=0.003) as compared to patients with MCT. MCTs were found in the body-tail region (100%) whereas IPMTs were more evenly distributed (50% in the head) (p=0.001). Pathologically, IPMT was distinct from MCT in terms of size (3.8 +/- 3.2 vs 9.1 +/- 4.4cm, p=0.001), association with secondary pancreatitis (50 vs 0%, P=0.011), communication with the pancreatic duct (94 vs 0%, p < 0. 001), presence of a dilated main pancreatic duct (61 vs 0%, p < 0.001) and the presence of ovarian-type stroma (0 vs 44%, p=0.003). Conclusion. IPMT and MCT are distinct clinico-pathological entities. This distinction is important as management and outcome of these entities may differ. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.