Evaluation of CT in the Diagnosis of Cystic Lesions of Pancreas

Objective To evaluate CT scanning in the diagnosis of cystic lesions of the pancreas.Materials and Methods CT manifestations in 54 patients with pancreatic cystic lesions were analyzed. The lesions included pseudocyst (n=41), real cyst (n=2), serous cystadenoma (n=3), mucinous cystadenoma (n=2), cystadenocarcinoma (n=3) and non-functioning islet cell tumor (n=3). Results In 41 patients with pseudocyst, a total of 44 cysts were detected, of which 41 was unilocular and 3 multilocular. Hypoattenuation was seen in 40 lesions and slight hyperattenuation in 4, all cysts showed no enhancement after contrast injection. Other findings included thickened anterior renal fascia (n=32), blurred peripancreatic fat (n=14) and dilated pancreatic duct (n=6). Real cyst appeared as a solitary or multiple non enhanced cystic lesion, and the verification of the diagnosis was based on special clinical data and histopathological exam. Cystadenoma was manifested as multilocular cystic lesion with septa. Of 3 cases with serous cystadenoma, centrally radial calcification was seen in 2. Three cystadenocarcinomas were characterized by multilocular lesions with septa, of which multiple intrahepatic metastases was found in 2. Of three cases with non functioning islet cell tumor, unilocular lesion was seen in two and multilocular lesion in one. The diagnostic accuracy of CT for pseudocystic and cystic lesions of the pancreas was 98.1% and 90.7%, respectively.Conclusion CT scans can well display the pancreatic lesion itself and the peripancreatic and hepatic involvement. CT is very helpful for the diagnosis and differentiation of the cystic lesions of the pancreas.