Pancreas CT Appearances
Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms (MCN) CT Findings
- Usually in body or tail of pancreas
- No communication with the pancreatic duct but can obstruct the pancreatic duct
- Cysts in MCN are usually over 2cm in size and fewer than 6 cysts present
- Contains ovarian type stroma
- Smooth external contour
- Relatively thick enhancing wall
- Peripheral calcifications
- Thick septations or nodularity suggestive of malignancy
Other Information About Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms (MCN)
Etiology:
- Unknown
Epidemiology:
- Male to female ratio is 1:20
- Most commonly present in middle aged patients
Presentation:
- MCNs are typically asymptomatic
- Large MCNs can cause abdominal pain
Prognosis:
- Non-invasive MCNs are benign
- Invasive MCNs have a 5-year relative survival rate of around 26%
Related Pearls: Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm (MCN)
Related Lectures:
Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm (MCN) of the Pancreas: What You Need to Know - Part 1
Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm (MCN) of the Pancreas: What You Need to Know - Part 2
Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Pancreas: CT Appearance with Key Imaging Features - Part 1
Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Pancreas: CT Appearance with Key Imaging Features - Part 2
Cystic Pancreatic Lesions: What You Need to Know - Part 2
Cystic Pancreatic Lesions: Detection, Diagnosis and Management - Part 4