[Diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cystic neoplasms].

Diagnosing Pancreatic Cysts Doctors use computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scanstodiagnosepancreaticcystsanddeterminetheir type. These tests can also identify features of the cysts that suggest an increased risk of cancer. If imaging scans cannot identify the typeof cyst or if the cyst has aconcerningappearance,doctorsmayalsouseanendoscopicultrasound procedure. This involves passing a tube called an endoscope throughthepatient’smouthandpast thestomach.Theendoscopeallowsdoctorstoseetheliningoftheintestineaswellasthecystandsurroundingpancreas.Theseimagescanidentifyfeaturesofthecyst’swall. Doctors canalsouse theendoscope toguideaneedle into the cyst to collectcellsandfluid.Thecellsare thentestedtodetermine if thecyst is cancerous.The fluid is tested forvarious substances, includingpancreatic enzyme (amylase), amucousmaterial calledmucin, and substancesthatmightindicatecancer,suchascarcinoembryonicantigen. Eachof these substanceshelps characterize the typeof cyst.