Mimicks of Pancreatic Malignancy in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis: Correlation of Computed Tomography Imaging Features with Histopathologic Findings

Oto, Aytekin; Eltorky, Mahmoud A.; Dave, Amish; Ernst, Randy D.; Chen, Keven; Rampy, Bill; Chaljub, Gregory; Nealon, William

doi:10.1067/j.cpradiol.2006.06.001

« Previous Next »Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Volume 35, Issue 5 , Pages 199-205, September 2006

Mimicks of Pancreatic Malignancy in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis: Correlation of Computed Tomography Imaging Features with Histopathologic Findings

Aytekin Oto, MD
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
- Reprint requests: Aytekin Oto, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0709.
Mahmoud A. Eltorky, MD, PhD
- Department of Surgical Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
Amish Dave, MD
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
Randy D. Ernst, MD
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
Keven Chen, MD
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
Bill Rampy, MD
- Department of Surgical Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
Gregory Chaljub, MD
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
William Nealon, MD
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX.

Differentiation of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma can be a clinical and radiologic dilemma. Several patients with chronic pancreatitis can undergo unnecessary major abdominal surgery for benign lesions. This pictorial review illustrates the computed tomographic findings and histopathologic features of lesions mimicking pancreatic neoplasm in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Several benign lesions can simulate pancreatic malignancy in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Knowledge of the computed tomographic appearance of these benign entities is important to prevent unnecessary surgeries.