Serous pancreatic neoplasia, data and review

AIM To describe the imaging features of serous neoplasms of the pancreas using ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS This multicenter international collaboration enhances a literature review to date, reporting features of 287 histologically confirmed cases of serous pancreatic cystic neoplasms (SPNs). RESULTS Female predominance is seen with most SPNs presenting asymptomatically in the 5th through 7th decade. Mean lesion size was 38.7 mm, 98% were single, 44.2% cystic, 46% mixed cystic and solid, and 94% hypoechoic on B-mode ultrasound. Vascular patterns and contrast-enhancement profiles are described as hypervascular and hyperenhancing. CONCLUSION The described ultrasound features can aid differentiation of SPN from other neoplastic lesions under most circumstances.