Cytopathology

2017 Edition
| Editors: Fernando Schmitt

Pancreatic Serous Cystadenoma, Cytological Findings

  • Louis J. Vaickus
  • Jessica Wang
  • Martha Bishop Pitman
Reference work entry
First Online:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33286-4_2754
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Synonyms

Glycogen-rich adenoma; Serous microcystic adenoma; Serous oligocystic adenoma

Definition

Serous cystadenoma (SCA) is a nearly universally benign, cystic, epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas (Hamilton and Aaltonen 2010; Hruban et al. 2007).

Clinical Features

Hamilton and Aaltonen ( 2010), Hruban et al. ( 2007), Pitman et al. ( 2010), Tseng et al. ( 2005).

  • Incidence

    SCA is rare and comprises 2% of all tumors of the exocrine pancreas.

  • Age

    Older adults develop SCA with a mean occurrence in the seventh decade of life.

  • Sex

    SCA occurs more commonly in females.

  • Site

    SCA commonly arise in the tail of the pancreas but can arise in other locations.

  • Treatment

    Observation is sufficient unless the cyst becomes symptomatic, becomes greater than 4 cm in size, or rapidly increases in size, in which case they are treated surgically.

  • Outcome

    Resection is curative. Serous cystadenocarcinoma has only rarely been reported.

Macroscopy

SCA is usually a well-circumscribed mass with a honeycomb-like...

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References and Further Reading

  1. Belsley, N. A., et al. (2008). Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas: Limitations and pitfalls of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Cancer Cytopathology, 114(2), 102–110.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Hamilton, S. R., & Aaltonen, L. A. (2010). World Health Organization classification of tumors of the digestive system. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
  3. Hruban, R. S., Pitman, M. B., & Klimstra, D. S. (2007). Tumors of the pancreas (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Registry of Pathology.Google Scholar
  4. Huang, P., et al. (2006). Fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic serous cystadenoma: Cytologic features and diagnostic pitfalls. Cancer Cytopathology, 108(4), 239–249.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Pitman, M. B., et al. (2010). Pancreatic cysts. Cancer Cytopathology, 118(1), 1–13.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Tseng, J. F., et al. (2005). Serous cystadenoma of the pacreas: Tumor growth rates and recommendation for treatment. Annals of Surgery, 242(3), 413–421.PubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Louis J. Vaickus
    • 1
    • 2
  • Jessica Wang
    • 3
  • Martha Bishop Pitman
    • 3
  1. 1.Massachusetts General HospitalMGH Pathology Service Warren Building 225BostonUSA
  2. 2.Department of PathologyBrigham and Women’s HospitalBostonUSA
  3. 3.Department of PathologyMassachusetts General HospitalBostonUSA