MUCINOUS CYSTIC PANCREATIC NEOPLASMS

Course overview

MUCINOUS CYSTIC PANCREATIC NEOPLASMS (MCPNS) ARE CYSTIC LESIONS OF THE PANCREAS, MOST COMMONLY IDENTIFIED AS INCIDENTAL FINDINGS IN THE BODY OR TAIL OF THE PANCREAS OF MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN. WHILE GENERALLY CONSIDERED A BENIGN NEOPLASTIC PROCESS, 15% TO 30% OF MCPNS HARBOR A MALIGNANCY. ADDITIONALLY, MCPNS MUST BE DIFFERENTIATED FROM OTHER PANCREATIC CYSTIC NEOPLASMS, ESPECIALLY INTRADUCTAL PANCREATIC MUCINOUS NEOPLASMS (IPMN). CROSS-SECTIONAL IMAGING AND ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND-GUIDED BIOPSY WITH CYST-FLUID ANALYSIS CAN FACILITATE A TIMELY DIAGNOSIS. MCPNS ARE TYPICALLY TREATED WITH SURGICAL RESECTION.THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF MCPNS. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MAKING AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS AND DECIDING ON A TREATMENT STRATEGY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS WITH THE NEOPLASTIC PROCESS.