Management of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are encountered frequently in clinical pract ice. Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are much less common. In order to dia gnose and most effectively treat these lesions, the surgeon must understand their clinical presentation in order to plan appropriate preoperative eval uation and therapeutic intervention. The following is a descriptive outline of the most common types of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas and a discuss ion of their preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management. Th e goal of the paper is to provide a functional understanding of cystic neop lasms of the pancreas so that they may be recognized and appropriately trea ted.