The nature and course of cystic pancreatic lesions diagnosed by ultrasound
G. V. Aranha, R. A. Prinz, A. C. Esguerra and H. B. Greenlee
To determine the nature and course of cystic pancreatic lesions, we
reviewed the records of 93 patients who were followed up with serial
ultrasound until resolution occurred or definitive therapy was given.
Initially, 105 cystic lesions were seen. Single cysts occurred in 83
patients and multiple cysts in ten. Eight patients had two cysts and two
patients had three. Twenty-one patients had a single ultrasound examination
and 72 had two or more examinations. Spontaneous resolution occurred in 29
of (28%) 105 cysts in 24 patients. In 46 patients, 53 pseudocysts were
found at operation or autopsy. Five patients had pancreatic abscesses. Two
patients became unavailable for follow-up and three refused surgery. The
results of one examination were false negative. Twelve patients had
false-positive ultrasound results. Factors influencing the likelihood of
spontaneous resolution included initial cyst size, subsequent increase in
size, multiple cysts, and the presence of calcifications. This study
confirms the usefulness of serial ultrasound scans in determining the
nature and necessity for treatment of cystic lesions of the pancreas.
