Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: Surgical treatment and outcome

Between 1986 and 1997 we treated 67 patients with 68 cystic tumors of the p ancreas including 17 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, four serous cystadenocar cinomas, 15 mucinous cystadenomas, 18 serous cystadenomas, ten intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors, three solid-pseudopapillary tumors, and one cyst ic neuroendocrine tumor. Regarding surgical therapy our results reveal a differentiated management w ith respect to the histological findings. While in benign tumors a local re section is adequate the cystadenocarcinomas require an extended resection. In general there is an indication for surgical therapy in all cystic tumors of the pancreas - not only in malignant neoplasias. A nonoperative managem ent is not justified. With a mean follow-up of 35 months the prognosis of the patients with a ben ign cystic tumor was excellent revealing a mortality of 0% whereas survival of the patients with a cystadenocarcinoma was 67% at five years.