Intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas: spectrum of CT and MR findings with pathologic correlation

The reports of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors (IPMT) of the pancreas are increasingly more frequent in the literature. The diagnosis by means o f cross-sectional imaging of these tumors is not easy, especially in the ea rly stages, when they can mimic an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Pr ompt identification of the disease is nevertheless extremely important, esp ecially in the case of tumors originating from the collateral branches, sin ce its recognition can modify the management of the patient, in some cases obviating recourse to surgery.