ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of mucinous cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Methods The clinical data of 23 patients with pancreatic mucinous cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma confirmed by pathology from May 1993 to October 2005 was retrospectively studied. Results Fifteen cases of mucinous cystadenoma, 4 cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and 4 cases of mucinous cystadenoma with malignancy were included in this data. Ultrasonography, CT, and MRI/MRCP displayed a cystic tumor in 73.7%, 68.8%, and 83.3% of all patients, respectively. The mean diameter of the tumors was 9.4 cm, and the maximum diameter of the tumors was 20 cm. Pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, local excision of cystadenoma and other procedures were performed according to the site of tumors. The resectable rate was 82.6%. Twenty-one patients (91.3%) were followed up. All of the 14 patients with mucinous cystadenoma were alive with the follow-up from 4 months to 11 years after operation. Two of the 4 cases of mucinous cystadenoma with malignancy were alive with the follow-up of 5 months and 4 years after operations, while the other 2 died with the survival time of 15 months and 18 months. One patient with mucinous cystadenocacinoma was alive 5 months after operation, while the other 2 died with the survival time of 7 months and 13 months. Conclusion Mucinous cystadenoma has a malignant tendency. As the mucinous cystadenocacinoma is a low malignant potential tumor, the resectable rate is high and prognosis is satisfactory. The excision of total tumor including the surrounding pancreatic tissue is the first choice of the treatment. Pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, and other procedures according to the site tumors is feasible.