Enucleation of Pancreatic Cystadenomas

  • Chunlin Ge
  • Xiaoguang Luo
  • Xuchun Chen
  • Kejian Guo
Original Article
First Online:
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Accepted:

Abstract

Background

Optimal surgical treatment of pancreatic cystadenomas is controversial due to the rarity of the tumors and paucity of studies regarding long-term outcomes. This is especially true for large pancreatic cystadenomas. The objective of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of treating pancreatic cystadenomas by enucleation.

Methods

Eleven cases of pancreatic mucinous or serous cystadenomas were selected for enucleation according to the following criteria: (1) the benign nature of the tumors was ascertained preoperatively and intraoperatively, (2) small tumors or larger tumors no more than 6 cm in diameter growing outwardly with small tumor beds, and (3) the main pancreatic duct was not in jeopardy of damage by enucleation. The patients’ demographics, tumor features, morbidity, and follow-up results were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

Results

Among 11 cases, three were serous cystadenomas and eight were mucinous cystadenomas; the average size of the neoplasms was 4.8 cm (ranging from 3 to 6 cm). Two cases were complicated by the development of fistulas postoperatively and one had an incision infection. All cases were followed up from 23 to 67 months, which revealed no neoplasm recurrence or new onset of diabetes mellitus; one patient developed a pseudocyst in the body 30 months after enucleation.

Conclusions

It is safe and effective to perform enucleation for well-selected benign pancreatic cystadenomas even if the tumor size is as large as 6 cm, and the endocrine or exocrine function of the pancreas is maintained as much as possible.

Keywords

Pancreatic neoplasm Cystadenoma Enucleation 
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Notes

Acknowledgement

This work is supported by grants from the Liaoning Science & Technology Commission.

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Copyright information

© The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Chunlin Ge
    • 1
  • Xiaoguang Luo
    • 2
  • Xuchun Chen
    • 1
  • Kejian Guo
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of General SurgeryFirst Affiliated Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
  2. 2.Department of NeurologyFirst Affiliated Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina

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