Differences in the Clinicopathologic and Radiological Characteristics of Patients With Microcystic and Macrocystic Serous Cystadenoma of the Pancreas.

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of the study were to elucidate the clinicopathological characteristics, imaging features, and surgical outcomes of patients with serous cystic neoplasms (SCNs) and to compare the features between microcystic (MiC) and macrocystic (MaC) SCNs.

Materials and methods: In this single-center retrospective study, information of patients with SCN between 2016 and 2022 at our institution was collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 105 patients with SCNs were identified, including 58 (55.2%) with MiC type and 47 (44.8%) with MaC type. Patient age and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade in the MiC group were significantly higher than those in the MaC group. The overall preoperative diagnostic accuracy was 7.6%, with no patients in the MaC group correctly diagnosed before surgery. In imaging examinations, almost all (97.1%) exhibited a lobulated pattern. Internal septation, honeycomb pattern, central scar, and calcification were common, with a significantly higher incidence in the MiC group. No in-hospital deaths occurred, and the incidence of major complications were comparable in both groups.

Conclusions: Although many patients presented with typical imaging features, accurate diagnosis of SCN remained difficult. Except for older age and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grade in the MiC group, there were no significant differences in the clinicopathological characteristics between MiC and MaC SCN patients.