From the Guidelines
Mucinous cysts typically appear as well-circumscribed cystic lesions with thick septae on imaging, such as CT or MRI, and are usually located in the pancreatic body or tail, with a characteristic appearance of a cyst filled with fluid rich in mucin or hemorrhagic fluid. The appearance of a mucinous cyst can be described in terms of its clinical and morphological characteristics, as well as its imaging features. Some key features of mucinous cysts include:
- A well-circumscribed cystic lesion with thick septae on imaging, such as CT or MRI, as noted in the study by 1
- Location in the pancreatic body or tail, as reported in the study by 1
- A cyst filled with fluid rich in mucin or hemorrhagic fluid, as described in the study by 1
- The presence of a dense ovarian-like stroma subjacent to the lining epithelium, which is a requirement for establishing a diagnosis of mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN), as noted in the study by 1
- The epithelial lining of an MCN consists of mucin-producing columnar cells with varying degrees of dysplasia, as reported in the study by 1
- On imaging, MCNs are typically solitary, large, well-circumscribed cystic lesions, either multiloculated or unilocular, that predominantly form in the left liver lobe, as described in the study by 1
- MCNs commonly do not communicate with the biliary tree and upstream ductal dilatation, if present, is attributed to the mass effect, as noted in the study by 1
- MCNs often contain enhancing septa, mural calcifications, and mural nodules, the latter being associated with malignancy if larger than 1 cm, as reported in the study by 1 It is worth noting that the study by 1 provides more recent and detailed information on the appearance of mucinous cysts, particularly in the context of cystic liver diseases. However, the study by 1 provides a more comprehensive overview of the clinical and morphological characteristics of mucinous cysts, and is therefore considered a higher quality study for the purpose of this question. Therefore, the recommendation is based on the study by 1, which provides a more detailed and comprehensive description of the appearance of mucinous cysts.
From the Research
Appearance of Mucinous Cysts
The appearance of mucinous cysts can vary depending on their location.
- In the oral cavity, mucoid cysts are benign lesions that result from the rupture of a salivary gland duct and the subsequent discharge of mucin into the soft tissues 2.
- On the fingers, mucoid cysts are common benign cysts, most often located dorsally or laterally to the distal interphalangeal joint, and are usually asymptomatic 3.
- Digital myxoid cysts are benign recurrent cystic lesions of less than 1 cm in diameter and rounded or oval morphology, typically located at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIJ) or eponychium in the digits, and can cause a longitudinal depression in the nail plate 4.
- The cysts can appear as rounded, red-bluish lesions with a cystic appearance, and can be filled with a clear gelatinous material 4, 5.
- Dermoscopy of digital myxoid cysts can show arboriform telangiectasias over white, bluish, and reddish-orange diffuse areas 4.
Key Characteristics
Some key characteristics of mucinous cysts include:
- Benign nature
- Variable location (oral cavity, fingers, etc.)
- Usually asymptomatic, but can cause symptoms such as limited joint movement, pain, and nail deformity
- Can be filled with a clear gelatinous material
- Can be diagnosed using dermoscopy 4