[Pancreatic cystic neoplasms: a clinical dilemma]

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms are increasingly detected in the general population. Although most of these lesions are benign, some are (pre)malignant and require follow-up or even surgical intervention. Three cases are presented and used to discuss the clinical implications of the renewed European Guideline on pancreatic cystic neoplasms in which relative and absolute indications for resection are proposed. In the first case, a pancreatic cystic lesion was found on abdominal ultrasound in a 77-year old female patient. After endoscopic ultrasound was performed, a serous cystic neoplasm was diagnosed without need for surveillance. In a 57-year old male, an abdominal MRI was performed to further assess an incidentally found pancreatic cystic lesion. Based on the MRI, a side-branch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (SB-IPMN) was diagnosed and yearly surveillance was initiated. A 61-year old male underwent a laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy because of a mixed-type IPMN (MT-IPMN). The pathological results showed an IPMN with high-grade dysplasia.