Differentiating intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms from other pancreatic cystic lesions.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) can be difficult to distinguish from other cystic lesions of the pancreas. To understand better and discuss the current knowledge on this topic, the literature and the institutional experience at a large pancreatic disease center have been reviewed. A combination of preoperative demographic, historical, radiographic, laboratory data, as well as postoperative pathologic analyses can often distinguish IPMN from other lesions in the differential diagnosis.