What is mucinous cystadenoma?

A pre-cancerous pancreatic cystic neoplasm with an epithelial coating that secretes mucin and an ovarian-type stroma.

How is it diagnosed?

Most frequently found in women (sex ratio: 9/1) in their 40s or 50s.

The lesion is often discovered when exploring the causes of poorly systematised abdominal pains (discovery by chance).

The diagnosis is often established based on imaging data (CT scan and MRI): single, macrocystic lesion with thick walls found in the body or tail of the pancreas, without communication with the pancreatic ducts.

In case of doubt, puncture of the cyst may be done during an endoscopic ultrasound. In this case, tumour markers (CEA and CA 19.9) are high.

How is it treated?

Surgery is recommended when the cysts are larger than 4 cm or in case of troubling signs (parietal nodules or thick walls).

In older patients or those with co-morbidities, if there are no parietal nodules, lesions of less than 4 cm may be closely monitored.

Source: Reference Centre for Rare Pancreatic Diseases and Disorders

Relevant reference centre: PaRaDis