Benign, premalignant and malignant pancreatic cystic lesions: the pathology landscape

Pancreatic cystic lesions are being increasingly detected in last years. Pancreatic cysts can be classified grossly into pseudocysts and true cysts. In the true cysts group, it is important to distinguish mucinous from non-mucinous cysts because the former are considered being premalignant lesions. In this article the major types of pancreatic cysts are reviewed, with emphasis on the histopathological aspects. Molecular markers in the cyst fluid are being increasingly studied in recent years ; the clinical utility of such biomarkers should be addressed in future studies. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2017, 80, 293-298).