Lymphoepithelial cysts and cystic lymphangiomas: Underrecognized benign cystic lesions of the pancreas

摘要

AIM: To identify their diagnostic and prognostic clinical characteristics in a large series.METHODS: Retrospective review of clinicopathologic and imaging characteristics of patients diagnosed with lymphoepithelial cysts and cystic lymphangiomas of the pancreas at Massachusetts General Hospital.RESULTS: Twelve patients were identified between 1/1/1997 and 8/1/2007. Their median age was 55.5 years(range 19-78 years), and 6 were females. The le-sion was incidentally discovered in half of the patients.Contrast enhanced computed tomography demonstrat-ed that the cysts had thin walls, without calcifications, pancreatic duct dilation or pancreatic parenchyma inva-sion. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration(EUS/FNA) confirmed the diagnosis of a lymphoepithe-lial cyst in 3 patients, one of whom was spared an op-eration and continues to do well after 6 years. Eleven patients had a resection: 3 pancreaticoduodenecto-mies, 7 distal pancreatectomies, and 1 enucleation. The median size of the cysts was 3 cm(range 2-20 cm). At a median follow-up of 57 mo no recurrences or other pancreas-related conditions occurred.CONCLUSION: Lymphoepithelial cysts and cystic lymphangiomas of the pancreas can be diagnosed with a combination of contrast-enhanced computed tomog-raphy scans and EUS/FNA. If the lesion is asymptom-atic, an operation might be avoided.