Diagnosis and management of relapsing pancreatitis associated with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas

Table 1 Characteristics of cystic neoplasms

	Morphology	Location	Ductal communication	Associated with pancreatitis	Cyst fluid CEA (pg/mL)
Serous	Microcystic	Evenly distributed	No	Rare	< 0.5
MCN	Macrocystic	Tail	Rare	Occasionally	> 200
IPMT	Mixed	Head	Yes	Yes	> 200
Pseudocyst	Unilocular	Evenly distributed	Yes	Yes	< 200

Table 2 Traditional therapeutic approach to the management of cystic lesions

Location	Mucinous	Malignant	Serous	Pseudocyst
Head	Monitor	Resect	Monitor	Drain
Body	Resect	Resect	Monitor	Drain
Tail	Resect1	Resect	Resect1	Resect

¹Approach varies with risk of surgery.