[Cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas of the pancreas]

Benign or malignant cystadenoma of the pancreas is a rare but not exceptional tumor. Up to present, 300 of the former and 100 of the latter have been reported in the world literature. Three personal observations are reported, comprising 2 benign cystadenomas, the first discovered on abdominal palpation and the second after massive bleeding of gastric varices and thrombosis of the splenic vein. After removal of the tumor both patients were alive 20 and 7 1/2 years later respectively. Total excision of a cystadenocarcinoma in a third case required 90% pancreatectomy with ensuing diabetes. A review of the literature shows that total excision of a cystadenocarcinoma is always justified since the survival rate approximates 70%. This contrasts singularly with the catastrophic prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.