CYTOLOGIC EXAMINATION OF PANCREATIC-JUICE FOR DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF BENIGN AND MALIGNANT MUCIN-PRODUCING TUMORS OF THE PANCREAS

Background. A new clinical type of pancreatic tumor, the mucin-produci ng tumor, has been recognized recently. However, it is not always easy to distinguish benign from malignant tumors preoperatively. In this s tudy, three different methods of differentiating mucin-producing tumor s of the pancreas were compared.Methods. Endoscopic ultrasonography, e ndoscopic retrograde pancreatography, and cytologic examination of pan creatic juice were performed in 14 patients who had mucin-producing pa ncreatic tumors (11 carcinomas and 3 adenomas). Pancreatic juice was c ollected endoscopically without papillotomy. Results. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography were 82%, 90%, and 79%, respectively; those of endoscopic retrograde pancre atography were 91%, 91%, and 86%; and those of cytologic examination w ere 91%, 100%, and 93%. Conclusion. Cytologic examination of pancreati c juice was the best of these three methods for differentiating benign from malignant mucin-producing pancreatic tumors.