PURPOSE: To measure the growth rate of microcystic subtype serous adenomas of the pancreas diagnosed by imaging. METHODS: For this retrospective study, 241 imaging studies were reviewed from 1998 to 2005. Thirty-one patients met our strict diagnostic imaging inclusion criteria and had at least 18 months of imaging follow-up. Patient demographics and lesion imaging characteristics were tested as predictors of growth. RESULTS: Growth was measured over a mean period of 42 months. There was a significant (P = .0004) linear growth of tumour for the population. There was significant clustering (P = .001) of the population into 2 growth rates: 0.50 mm/y (n = 23) and 5.5 mm/y (n = 8). The diameter of the lesion at presentation was significantly correlated with growth (r = 0.45; P = .01). CONCLUSION: The microcystic subtype of serous cystadenomas of the pancreas diagnosed with imaging criteria demonstrates 2 distinct and slow growth rates. The size of the lesion at presentation is correlated with growth rate.
PURPOSE: To measure the growth rate of microcystic subtype serous adenomas of the pancreas diagnosed by imaging. METHODS: For this retrospective study, 241 imaging studies were reviewed from 1998 to 2005. Thirty-one patients met our strict diagnostic imaging inclusion criteria and had at least 18 months of imaging follow-up. Patient demographics and lesion imaging characteristics were tested as predictors of growth. RESULTS: Growth was measured over a mean period of 42 months. There was a significant (P = .0004) linear growth of tumour for the population. There was significant clustering (P = .001) of the population into 2 growth rates: 0.50 mm/y (n = 23) and 5.5 mm/y (n = 8). The diameter of the lesion at presentation was significantly correlated with growth (r = 0.45; P = .01). CONCLUSION: The microcystic subtype of serous cystadenomas of the pancreas diagnosed with imaging criteria demonstrates 2 distinct and slow growth rates. The size of the lesion at presentation is correlated with growth rate.