Pancreatic cysts: Tests and diagnosis - MayoClinic.com

Pancreatic cysts: Tests and diagnosis - MayoClinic.com

In some cases, the location of the cyst in your pancreas — along with your age and sex — can help doctors pinpoint what type of cyst you have.

1. Mucinous cystadenoma. These cysts are usually located in the body or tail of the pancreas and occur most often in middle-aged women. They are precancerous, and some may already be cancerous when discovered. Larger cysts are more likely to be cancerous.
2. Mucinous duct ectasia. More common in men, these cysts consist of dilated ductal segments, usually within the head of the pancreas. Also known as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, these growths are often cancerous.
3. Serous cystadenoma. These growths can become large enough to displace nearby organs, causing such symptoms as abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness. They occur most frequently in middle-aged women and become cancerous only rarely.
4. Papillary cystic tumor. The least common of the nonpseudocysts, papillary cystic tumors — also known as papillary cystic neoplasm or solid and pseudopapillary neoplasm — occur most often in young women and are usually located in the body or tail of the pancreas. They are usually cancerous.

Islet cell tumors, also known as neuroendocrine tumors, are less common. Normally, the pancreas's islet cells produce insulin and other hormones. Islet cell tumors can also produce these hormones.