Characterization and management of cystic pancreatic neoplasms communicating lesions (IPMN)

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are a group of exocrine mucin-producing tumors, diagnosed at a mean age of 60 years, with a male prevalence [1]. Improvements in imaging techniques have led to an increasing incidental detection of IPMNs: the prevalence of incidental cystic pancreatic lesions can be observed in up to 19.6% of imaging studies [2]. Three types of IPMNs have been described [1]: the main duct type; the branch-duct type and the mixed type, which meet the criteria for both MD-IPMN and BD-IPMN, with significant differences in frequencies of malignancy in IPMNs according to the morphological types, higher for MD-type (mean 61.6%) and lower for BD-type (25.5%)(3).