INTRADUCTAL MUCIN-PRODUCING TUMORS OF THE PANCREAS - IMAGING FINDINGS

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic characteristics of intraductal muc in-producing tumors of the pancreas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen pa tients with intraductal tumors underwent ultrasound (US); (n = 15), co mputed tomography (CT); (n = 16), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancr eatography (ERCP); (n = 12), and intraoperative pancreatography (n = 2 ). Findings were compared with those from surgery (n = 14) or biopsy ( n = 2). RESULTS: Lesions were classified as either main duct type or b ranch duct type tumors. Main duct tumors were characterized at US and CT by either diffuse or segmental dilatation of the Wirsung duct. Panc reatography showed ductal dilatation and filling defects caused by muc in deposits, At US and CT, branch duct tumors, which were mainly locat ed at the uncinate process, were seen as fluid-filled masses with cent ral septa and the pancreatic duct was dilated. ERCP showed partial or complete opacification of the lesion. In four patients, endoscopy show ed protrusion of the papilla into the duodenal lumen and mucin leaking from its dilated orifice. CONCLUSION: Imaging modalities, especially US and ERCP, enable early diagnosis of mucin-producing pancreatic tumo rs.