PANCREATIC CYSTADENOMA - REPORT OF 4 CASES

The authors report 4 cases of pancreatic cystic tumours (serous cystad enoma: cases 1 and 3; mucinous cystadenoma: case 4; cystadenocarcinoma : case 2) observed over an Ii-year period. In the light of these cases and a review of the literature, they analyse the circumstances of dis covery, performances of imaging,diagnostic problems and therapeutic mo dalities oi this disease. Pancreatic cystadenoma is a rare epithelial tumour, essentially observed in young women, with a very controversial histogenesis. These tumours remain asymptomatic, and are an incidenta l discovery in the majority of cases. The positive diagnosis of this d isease is essentially based on histological examination of the entire tumour. Ultrasonography and computed tomography allow precise analysis of the cyst contents and local staging. Echoendoscopy can provide the definitive diagnosis of cystadenocarcinoma in 82% of cases, but canno t distinguish between the serous type and the mucinous type. Guided bi opsy appears to have a limited role, but analysis of the cystic tumour aspiration fluid is useful, as it allows distinction between the two anatomical varieties. Treatment depends on the histological nature of the lesion: surgical in mucinous forms and cystadenocarcinoma, and a m ore conservative approach in serous forms.