ABSTRACT
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is characterized by cystic dilatation of the pancreatic duct, excessive mucin production, and papillary growth of the tumor. Occasionally, it forms a fistula into other organs. Because of the higher malignant potential of the main duct type IPMN compared to the branch duct type, patients with main duct type IPMN usually undergo surgical treatment and the natural history of the main duct type IPMN is not commonly observed in clinical practice. An 84-year-old woman was diagnosed with main duct type IPMN of pancreas, but she refused operative treatment. Seven years later she was admitted by chance for another disease, and then referred to our gastrointestinal department. We think this case can give us an insight of the natural course of the main duct type IPMN.
Subject(s)
Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Dilatation , Fistula , Mucins , Natural History , Pancreas , Pancreatic DuctsABSTRACT
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is characterized by cystic dilatation of the pancreatic duct, excessive mucin production, and papillary growth of the tumor. Occasionally, it forms a fistula into other organs. Because of the higher malignant potential of the main duct type IPMN compared to the branch duct type, patients with main duct type IPMN usually undergo surgical treatment and the natural history of the main duct type IPMN is not commonly observed in clinical practice. An 84-year-old woman was diagnosed with main duct type IPMN of pancreas, but she refused operative treatment. Seven years later she was admitted by chance for another disease, and then referred to our gastrointestinal department. We think this case can give us an insight of the natural course of the main duct type IPMN.