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. 2008 Sep;191(3):802-7.
doi: 10.2214/AJR.07.3340.

Prevalence of unsuspected pancreatic cysts on MDCT

Thomas A Laffan  1 , Karen M Horton, Alison P Klein, Bruce Berlanstein, Stanley S Siegelman, Satomi Kawamoto, Pamela T Johnson, Elliot K Fishman, Ralph H Hruban
Affiliations

Prevalence of unsuspected pancreatic cysts on MDCT

Thomas A Laffan et al. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: Current generation MDCT technology facilitates identification of small, nonenhancing lesions in the pancreas. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of findings of unsuspected pancreatic cysts on 16-MDCT in a population of adult outpatients imaged for disease unrelated to the pancreas.

Materials and methods: Contrast-enhanced MDCT scans of the abdomen were reviewed from 2,832 consecutive examinations to identify pancreatic cysts. Patients with a history of pancreatic lesions or predisposing factors for pancreatic disease or who were referred for pancreatic CT were excluded.

Results: A total of 73 patients had pancreatic cysts, representing a prevalence of 2.6 per 100 patients (95% CI, 2.0-3.2). Cysts ranged in size from 2 to 38 mm (mean, 8.9 mm) and were solitary in 85% of cases. Analysis of demographic information showed a strong correlation between pancreatic cysts and age, with no cysts identified among patients under 40 years and a prevalence of 8.7 per 100 (95% CI, 4.6-12.9) in individuals from 80 to 89 years. After controlling for age, cysts were more common in individuals of the Asian race than all other race categories, with an odds ratio of 3.57 (95% CI, 1.05-12.13). There was no difference by sex in the prevalence of cysts (p = 0.527); however, cysts were on average 3.6 mm larger (p = 0.014) in men than women.

Conclusion: In this outpatient population, the prevalence of unsuspected pancreatic cysts identified on 16-MDCT was 2.6%. Cyst presence strongly correlated with increasing age and the Asian race.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
75-year-old white woman with two pancreatic cysts. A, Transverse contrast-enhanced CT scan shows 14-mm cyst (arrow) in head of pancreas. Common duct (arrowhead) is also seen. B, Transverse CT image cephalad to A shows 13-mm cyst (arrow) in body of pancreas.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
82-year-old white man with cyst in pancreas and dilated pancreatic duct. A, Transverse image from delayed contrast-enhanced CT scan shows 14-mm cyst (arrow) in head of pancreas. B, Transverse image from delayed contrast-enhanced CT scan shows largest diameter of pancreatic duct (arrowheads) was 5.2 mm.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
84-year-old white woman. Transverse image from IV contrast-enhanced CT scan shows 3-mm cyst (arrow) in neck of pancreas.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
77-year-old white man. Transverse image from IV contrast-enhanced CT scan shows 24-mm cyst (arrow) in tail of pancreas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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