Differentiation of aggressive from non-aggressive pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasms using computed...

Microscopic aggressive behaviors may be related with the prognosis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs). In this study, we investigate computed tomography (CT) features and differential diagnosis of aggressive and non-aggressive SPNs in pancreas.

122 patients with pathologically proven SPNs in pancreas were included. Patients' age, tumor site, texture, shape, margins, exophytic growth, capsule, calcification, hemorrhage, pancreatic duct dilatation or pancreatic parenchyma atrophy, peripancreatic infiltration or metastases, vascular encasement, and enhancement pattern were assessed. The diagnostic accuracy was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

There were 30 aggressive SPNs and 92 non-aggressive SPNs. Aggressive SPNs showed significantly higher frequencies of an ill-defined margin, patient age > 40.5 years, and tumor size < 42.1 mm, but lower frequencies of complete capsule, hemorrhage compared with non-aggressive SPNs (p < 0.05). Lack of complete capsule and age > 40.5 years were independent risk factors of aggressive SPNs (odd ratio 7.08 and 3.1, respectively). When we applied the two predictors in the logistic regression model, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.77 with sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 55.4%.

Size less than 42.1 mm, lack of complete capsule, ill-defined, and absent bleeding are useful CT imaging features for predicating aggressive SPNs. Patient age > 40.5 years and lack of complete capsule showed acceptable diagnostic performance for discriminating aggressive from non-aggressive SPNs.