Molecular markers contribute to the clinical diagnosis for pancreatic cystic neoplasms

A pancreatic cystic neoplasm (PCN) is a rare pancreatic disease. Malignant PCNs are usually identified incidentally while evaluating other lesions. However, PCNs are being identified more frequently owing to the increased use of abdominal imaging. Malignant PCNs have complicated and diverse biological behaviors, including various malignant risk factors, diverse molecular features, natural history, and complex pathological classifications. Although many diagnostic methods, such as cross-sectional imaging and endoscopic evaluation, have been developed, malignant PCNs are still difficult to differentiate from benign tumors. On searching for related articles in the recent decade, we found that some molecular biomarkers such as carcinoembryonic antigen could be useful for discriminating between malignant tumors and benign tumors. However, cytopathologic evaluation is the most useful method for differentiating between benign and malignant lesions. Although cytopathologic evaluation has a specificity of 100% for identifying malignancies, its accuracy is often hampered by the low cellularity of PCN cells in the cystic fluid. Herein, we review the progress in the use of cellular and molecular markers for the accurate identification of PCNs.