Non-Neoplastic Pancreatic Lesions that may Mimic Malignancy

The widespread use of abdominal ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has resulted in increased identification of asymptomatic pancreatic lesions; the so called “incidentalomas”.1 Preoperative diagnoses of pancreatic lesions can be difficult. Solid and cystic lesions and anatomic variants of normal can all mimic tumor clinically and radiologically.2 The addition of fine needle aspiration to endoscopic ultrasound (EUS-FNA) has become a mainstay in the diagnosis of pancreatic lesions, improving our ability to diagnose many lesions, however due to contamination by gastrointestinal mucosa and a sensitivity and specificity less than 100% not all lesions can be specifically characterized.

Source: Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology - September 7, 2015 Category: Pathology Authors: Sherry D. Okun, David N. Lewin Source Type: research