ROLE OF ERCP IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTRADUCTAL PAPILLARY MUCINOUS NEOPLASMS

Mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas may present in a ''ductectat ic'' form, which parallels a distinct clinical presentation, We descri be six patients with this entity termed mucinous ductal ectasia, or in traductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, All six patients presented with typical clinical and endoscopic findings and subsequently, almost all were found to have mucinous ductal cystadenocarcinomas, The endoscopi c and pancreatographic findings associated with an intraductal papilla ry mucinous neoplasm are characteristic, unique, and yield a high diag nostic accuracy, It is important to recognize these features of intrad uctal papillary mucinous neoplasm since the tumor has a lower malignan t potential than adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, and surgical resectio n is curative in many cases.