COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY AND FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY FOR PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION OF CYSTIC TUMORS OF THE PANCREAS

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are rare. They may present as a mucin ous (malignant or potentially malignant) tumour or as benign serous cy stadenoma. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is therefore essential, as an asymptomatic serous tumour may safely be followed clinically for ye ars, whereas mucinous tumours require aggressive surgery. Thirteen pat ients with cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas were rev iewed and how best to improve the rate of preoperative diagnosis was c onsidered. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and computed tomography ena ble accurate preoperative distinction between mucinous and serous cyst ic tumours of the pancreas.