Aim: To recognize cystic neoplasia of the pancreas and thus to identify a panel of curable diseases.
Methods: Sixty-four cases of cystic neoplasia of the pancreas, including 28 cases of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN), 12 cases of serous cystic neoplasia (SCN), 11 cases of mucinous cystic neoplasia (MCN), 11 cases of solid pseudo-papillary neoplasia (SPN), and 2 cases of solid tumor with cystic degeneration were examined immunohistochemically for their expression of MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC6, as well as other related antigens.
Results: Adenoma type of IPMN and borderline lesions exhibited high expressions of MUC2, and MUC5AC. In contrast, IPMN with invasive carcinoma component showed MUC1 immunoreactivity. SCN was mainly positive for MUC1 and MUC6, while negative for MUC2, MUC4 and MUC5AC. Noninvasive MCN, regardless of its cellular atypia degree, was positive for MUC5AC and negative for MUC1. MUC1 expression was only observed in patients with an invasive component. No mucin expression was found in SPN.
Conclusion: Mucin profile may, in conjunction with histologic study, provide important information on tumor types and patient treatment of cystic neoplasia of the pancreas.