Differential diagnosis of pancreatic cysts - McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine

Table 7.4-2. Differential diagnosis of pancreatic cysts
		Pseudocyst	SCA	MCN	IPMN
History of acute pancreatitis		+++	–	+/–	+
Imaging studies	Number of chambers	1	>6	<6	–
	Calcifications	++ (calcific chronic pancreatitis)	+ (central)	+ (peripheral)	+/– (obstructive chronic pancreatitis)
	Papilla of Vater	Normal	Normal	Normal	Gaping
	Pancreatic duct	Often features of chronic pancreatitis	Normal	Normal	Partially dilated
	Communication with the pancreatic duct	>60%	0.6%	10%	100%
Fluid sample examination	Amylase and lipase activity	↑↑↑	Low	Low	↑
	CEA	↓	<0.5 ng/mL	>192 ng/mL	↓ (dilution)
	Viscosity	↓	↓	↑ (>1.63)	↑ (>1.63)
CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; IPMN, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms; MCN, mucinous cystic neoplasms; SCA, serous cystadenoma.