MDCT evaluation of the growth kinetics of serous and benign mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas

We assessed the growth kinetics of pathologically proven benign neoplastic cystic lesions of the pancreas. The volume and longest axial diameter (LAD) of 20 pathologically proven pancreatic cystic lesions (12 mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) and 8 serous cystadenomas (SCN)) on 2 multidetector computed tomography scans, obtained before resection, were measured. Reciprocal of doubling time, doubling time and growth rate based on volume and LAD were calculated. A P value <0.05 was considered significant. For all cysts, growth kinetics based on volume were: reciprocal of doubling time (mean = 3.03, median = 1.0), doubling time (mean = 644, median = 388 days) and growth rate (mean = 74.7, median = 5.7 ml/year). Results based on LAD were: reciprocal of doubling time (mean = 3.09, median = 1.3), doubling time (mean = 752, median = 273 days) and growth rate (mean = 24.5, median = 5.6 mm/year). These variables were not statistically different between MCNs and SCNs (P>0.05 in all instances). Reciprocal of doubling time based on volume and LAD were comparable (P>0.05). We concluded that the mean reciprocal of doubling time was 3.03 and 3.09 using volume and LAD, respectively. This may aid in designing follow-up guidelines for pancreatic cysts.