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G Zamboni

Publications and source records attributed to G Zamboni.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Molecular characterization of pancreatic serous microcystic adenomas: evidence for a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 10q.

Pancreatic serous microcystic adenomas (SCAs) are rare, benign tumors with a striking female preference. Virtually no information is available about chromosomal or genetic anomalies in this disease. We performed extensive molecular characterization of 21 cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sporadic SCAs consisting in genome-wide allelic loss analysis with 79 microsatellite markers covering all 22 autosomes, assessment of microsatellite instability, and mutational analysis of the VHL, K-ras, and p53 genes in nine cases for which frozen tissue was available. Although no case showed microsatellite instability of the type seen in mismatch repair-deficient tumors, a relatively low fractional allelic loss of 0.08 was found. Losses on chromosome 10q were the most frequent event in SCAs (50% of cases), followed by allelic losses on chromosome 3p (40% of cases). Moderately frequent losses (>25% of cases) were found on chromosomes 1q, 2q, and 7q. The VHL gene, located on chromosome 3p, had somatic inactivating mutations in two of nine cases (22%), whereas no mutations were found in either K-ras or p53, in agreement with the finding that all 21 cases stained negative for p53 by immunohistochemistry. Our study indicates that the involvement of chromosomal arms 10q and 3p is characteristic of SCAs and that the VHL gene is involved in a subset of sporadic cases.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Pattern of REM sleep occurrence in continuous darkness following the exposure to low ambient temperature in the rat.

The occurrence of REM sleep episodes, separated by intervals >3 min (single episodes) and < or =3 min (sequential episodes), was determined in the rat during the recovery (ambient temperature (Ta) 23 degrees C, L period of the LD [12 h:12 h]-cycle), which followed the exposure to low Ta (0 and -10 degrees C) during the D period of the previous LD-cycle, either in normal light (DL) or in continuous darkness (DD). Both exposures were characterized by an almost complete disappearance of REM sleep, whilst the recoveries showed an increase in the amount of REM sleep in the form of sequential episodes, which in DD was particularly prominent and concomitant with a decrease in the amount of REM sleep in the form of single episodes. The initial 2 h-rate of REM sleep occurrence was lower following the exposure to Ta -10 degrees C, than to Ta 0 degrees C. In DD, such an effect was due to the large reduction in the occurrence of sequential REM sleep episodes. A functional correlate of this finding is that the accumulation capacity of a second messenger (cAMP) was found to be lower at the end of the exposure to Ta -10 degrees C, with respect to both the control (Ta 23 degrees C) and the end of exposure to Ta 0 degrees C, in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamus, but not in the cerebral cortex.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Parvalbumin is constantly expressed in chromophobe renal carcinoma.

Chromophobe renal carcinoma is composed of neoplastic cell showing several features similar to those found in the intercalated cells of the collecting ducts. Because the distal nephron expresses calcium-binding proteins playing a role in calcium homeostasis, we reasoned that these proteins could be expressed by chromophobe carcinoma and therefore represent a diagnostic marker. We studied the immunohistochemical expression of different calcium-binding proteins (parvalbumin, calbindin-D28K, and calretinin) in 140 renal tumors, including 75 conventional (clear cell) carcinomas, 32 chromophobe carcinomas, 17 papillary renal cell carcinomas, and 16 oncocytomas. Parvalbumin was strongly positive in all primary chromophobe carcinomas and in one pancreatic metastasis; it was positive in 11 of 16 oncocytomas and absent in conventional (clear cell) and papillary renal cell carcinomas, either primary or metastatic. Calbindin-D28K and calretinin were negative in all tumors, with the exception of two chromophobe carcinomas, four oncocytomas, and two papillary renal cell carcinomas showing inconspicuous calretinin expression. Our data demonstrate that parvalbumin may be a suitable marker for distinguishing primary and metastatic chromophobe carcinoma from conventional (clear cell) and papillary renal cell carcinoma. Moreover, they suggest a relationship between chromophobe renal carcinoma and renal oncocytoma and indicate that chromophobe carcinoma exhibits differentiation toward the collecting-duct phenotype.

Calbindin 1↗
PubMed2001

Clinicopathological features and treatment of intraductal papillary mucinous tumour of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: The surgical strategy in patients with a pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous tumour (IPMT) is still controversial. In this study the pathological findings in a series of patients were used to rationalize surgical choice. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with IPMT were observed between 1988 and 1998 and treated by pancreatic resection. Factors evaluated included symptoms, tumour site, type of operation, histological findings and resection margins, tumour stage, follow-up and survival. RESULTS: Pancreaticoduodenectomy was the most frequent surgical treatment (33 patients; 65 per cent), followed by left pancreatectomy (ten), total pancreatectomy (five) and middle pancreatectomy (three). Histological assessment revealed the tumour to be an adenoma in 13 patients (25 per cent), a borderline tumour in ten (20 per cent) and a carcinoma in 28 (55 per cent), 19 of which were invasive. Mild to moderate dysplasia was present at the resection margin in 20 specimens (41 per cent), and carcinoma in one. Local recurrence was observed in four patients (8 per cent), all of whom underwent a second resection. The 3-year actuarial survival rate for benign and malignant disease was 94 and 69 per cent respectively (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that resection should be the treatment for IPMT. Management of the resection margin could be crucial in avoiding tumour recurrence.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed2001

Pancreatic tumours: molecular pathways implicated in ductal cancer are involved in ampullary but not in exocrine nonductal or endocrine tumorigenesis.

Alterations of K- ras, p53, p16 and DPC4/Smad4 characterize pancreatic ductal cancer (PDC). Reports of inactivation of these latter two genes in pancreatic endocrine tumours (PET) suggest that common molecular pathways are involved in the tumorigenesis of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine epithelia. We characterized 112 primary pancreatic tumours for alterations in p16 and DPC4 and immunohistochemical expression of DPC4. The cases included 34 PDC, 10 intraductal papillary-mucinous tumours (IPMT), 6 acinar carcinomas (PAC), 5 solid-pseudopapillary tumours (SPT), 16 ampulla of Vater cancers (AVC) and 41 PET. All tumours were also presently or previously analysed for K- ras and p53 mutations and allelic loss at 9p, 17p and 18q. Alterations in K- ras, p53, p16 and DPC4 were found in 82%, 53%, 38% and 9% of PDC, respectively and in 47%, 60%, 25% and 6% of AVC. Alterations in these genes were virtually absent in PET, PAC or SPT, while in IPMT only K- ras mutations were present (30%). Positive immunostaining confirmed the absence of DPC4 alterations in all IPMT, SPT, PAC and PET, while 47% of PDC and 38% of AVC were immunonegative. These data suggest that pancreatic exocrine and endocrine tumourigenesis involves different genetic targets and that among exocrine pancreatic neoplasms, only ductal and ampullary cancers share common molecular events.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed2001

The immunohistochemical mucin expression pattern distinguishes different types of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas and determines their relationship to mucinous noncystic carcinoma and ductal adenocarcinoma.

Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas seem to comprise various types, whose relationship to ductal adenocarcinoma and mucinous noncystic carcinoma is unclear. We analyzed the mucin immunophenotype and the DPC4/SMAD4 expression in intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms, ductal carcinomas, and mucinous noncystic carcinomas to define features that may help to distinguish between different types of intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms and to establish their relationship to other neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas. A series of 51 intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms, three mucinous noncystic carcinomas (two with an intraductal component), and 35 ductal adenocarcinomas were screened immunohistochemically for their expression of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5, and DPC4/SMAD4. All intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms and mucinous noncystic carcinomas were positive for MUC5. Thirty-two intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms and three mucinous noncystic carcinomas abundantly expressed MUC2 but no (or only little) MUC1. The remaining intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms showed either mainly MUC1 expression or focal MUC1 and MUC2 expression. All ductal carcinomas but one were MUC2 negative and MUC1 and MUC5 positive. DPC4 was not expressed in two intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms that showed a tubular invasion pattern. Twelve of 23 ductal adenocarcinomas were DPC4 positive. Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms can be divided into at least three different mucin immunophenotypes. The first and largest group of intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms and mucinous noncystic carcinomas is MUC1 negative and MUC2 positive and probably forms one tumor entity. The second group seems to be related to ductal carcinoma because of its MUC1 positivity in the absence or very weak MUC2 staining. The third group shows focal MUC1/MUC2 expression and is characterized by oncocytic histology.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed2001

Studies on the binding of 3H-SR121566, an inhibitor of Gp IIb-IIIa activation.

SR121566 is a new synthetic agent which inhibits the binding of fibrinogen to activated platelets, and platelet aggregation. 3H-SR121566 bound with nanomolar affinity (KD ranging from 45 to 72 nM) to Gp IIb-IIIa expressing cells only. On activated human platelets, this ligand allowed the detection of a maximal number of 100-140,000 binding sites. The binding of SR121566 to platelets, was displaced by several agents including RGD-containing peptides and synthetic RGD mimetics, but not by ReoPro, a humanised monoclonal antibody which inhibits the binding of fibrinogen to the Gp IIb-IIIa complex. Neither the fibrinogen dodecapeptide nor fibrinogen itself were able to compete with SR121566 whether platelets were activated or not. Flow cytometry studies indicated that SR121566 which did not activate Gp IIb-IIIa by itself, dose-dependently prevented the detection of activation-induced binding sites on TRAP-stimulated platelets in the presence or absence of exogenous fibrinogen, indicating a direct effect on the activation state of the Gp IIb-IIIa complex. Moreover, SR121566 was able to reverse the activation of Gp IIb-IIIa and to displace the binding of fibrinogen when added up to 5 min after TRAP stimulation of platelets. When added at later times (15 to 30 min), SR121566 failed to displace fibrinogen binding, even if SR121566 binding sites were still accessible and the Gp IIb-IIIa complex not activated. In conclusion, our study is in accordance with the finding that fibrinogen is recognised by the activated Gp IIb-IIIa complex through the dodecapeptide sequence present on its gamma chain, and that this interaction is inhibited by SR121566 by preventing and reversing the activated conformation of Gp IIb-IIIa and not by direct competition with fibrinogen.

Abciximab↗
PubMed2000

Allelotype of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PAC) is a rare pancreatic tumor for which no information about chromosomal and gene anomalies is available. We performed genome-wide allelotyping of 9 PACs using DNA from 5 frozen and 4 paraffin-embedded samples and 76 PCR-amplified, chromosome-specific microsatellite markers. High degrees of allelic loss were found, with a mean fractional allelic loss of 0.33. Chromosomes 1p, 4q and 17p showed loss of heterozygosity in >70% of cases and chromosomes 11q, 13q, 15q and 16q, in 60% to 70% of cases. Chromosomes 3q, 6q, 8q, 18q and 21q showed loss in 50% to 60% of cases. All of the remaining chromosomes showed no or few allelic losses. The resulting allelotype of PAC is markedly different from that of either ductal or endocrine tumors of the pancreas, and the involvement of chromosomes 4q and 16q appears to be characteristic of this tumor type. High-resolution mapping of the 12 frequently altered chromosomes in 5 cases with 222 markers permitted subchromosomal localization of regions of consensus loss on 5 chromosomes, including 1p36.31, 3p25.2, 4q26-31.1, 15q15-22.1 and 16q21-q22.1. Our findings suggest that PAC tumorigenesis involves molecular pathways different from those occurring in more common pancreatic tumor types.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Changes in REM sleep occurrence due to rhythmical auditory stimulation in the rat.

The effects of the rhythmical delivery of an auditory stimulus (1000 Hz, from 50 to 100 dB, 20 ms, every 20 s) on the pattern of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurrence was studied in the rat. The stimulation was simultaneously carried out on pairs of rats over 5 consecutive days (10-h recording sessions), during which a tone of increasing intensity (50, 63, 75, 88, 100 dB) was used. In each experimental session, auditory stimulation was triggered by the REM sleep occurrence of one rat (REMS-selective stimulation) whilst the other rat simultaneously received the same stimuli, but during any stage of the wake-sleep cycle (REMS-unselective stimulation). The results showed that the total amount of REM sleep in the 10-h recording session was increased over the 5 days of stimulation in the REMS-unselective group. This effect was due to an increase in the mean duration of REM sleep episodes. However, no significant changes were observed in animals under REMS-selective stimulation, nor in a third group of animals in which the spontaneous evolution of REM sleep occurrence (REMS-spontaneous) was studied. Since 86% of the stimuli under the REMS-unselective auditory stimulation fell outside REM sleep, the result would suggest that REM sleep occurrence is affected when the stimuli are delivered during a time period (i.e. during wakefulness or non-REM sleep) in which it is well known that physiological regulations are fully operant.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2000

Alcohol, smoking and papillomavirus infection as risk factors for esophageal squamous-cell papilloma and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma in Italy.

Esophageal papilloma, an infrequent benign tumor, and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma sometimes appear to be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HPV being implicated in anogenital carcinogenesis. Our aim was to assess whether there is any epidemiological difference in terms of risk factors for papilloma and cancer. From 1989 to 1996, a total of 12,011 patients (53% male, median age 52.7 years) were submitted to esophagogastroduodenoscopy by our Digestive Endoscopy Service. The genome of HPV was sought by PCR using 2 different primer sets. Of the total, 42 subjects (0.35%), 50% male with a mean age of 45.1 years, were suffering from esophageal squamous-cell papilloma and 45 (0.37%), 91% male with a mean age of 63.0 years, from esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. Of these patients, only 2 with papilloma were HPV(+). Compared with the general endoscopic population, patients with papilloma do not present significantly different characteristics (even in terms of frequency of esophagitis and hiatal hernia). Those with carcinoma differ significantly both from the general endoscopic population and from those with papilloma in that they are more often male (p < 0. 0001), older (p < 0.0001) and drinkers (p < 0.0001); they differ significantly only from the general population, but not from the papilloma patients, in smoking habits. Papilloma appears to be neither a lesion involving a risk of development into a malignancy nor a marker for any such risk. Environmental factors, such as alcohol and smoking, appear to play a decisive role in esophageal carcinogenesis in northern Italy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Pancreatic acinar carcinoma shows a distinct pattern of chromosomal imbalances by comparative genomic hybridization.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PAC) is a rare pancreatic tumor for which no information about chromosomal anomalies is available. We examined six primary PACs by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). All cases showed chromosomal changes. A total of 106 gains and 48 losses was detected. Consensus regions of gain were identified on chromosomes 1, 12, and X: 1q21 in four cases, 1q42 in three cases, 12p11.2 in four cases, and Xq12-21 in three cases. Recurrent losses were found at 16p13.2-p13.1 in three cases and at 16q23 in three cases. To verify these chromosomal imbalances, microsatellite analysis of matched normal and tumor DNA was performed using PCR-amplified markers for chromosomes 1, 12, and 16 in the regions showing nonrandom gains or losses. This analysis showed allelic imbalances in tumor DNA consistent with the CGH profiles. Our CGH study suggests that PAC shows a characteristic pattern of chromosomal alterations, involving gain at 1q, 12p, and Xq and loss of sequences at 16p and 16q. This pattern appears unique among solid tumors and is markedly different from that detected in pancreatic ductal carcinomas by the same technique. This suggests that PAC tumorigenesis involves different molecular pathways than those involved in the more common pancreatic ductal tumors. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 28:294-299, 2000.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Relapse of low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma after Helicobacter pylori eradication: true relapse or persistence? Long-term post-treatment follow-up of a multicenter trial in the north-east of Italy and evaluation of the diagnostic protocol's adequacy.

The effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori on early stage gastric low-grade MALT lymphoma in 76 patients with follow-up of at least 1 year (12-63 months, mean 28) is reported. No regression was found in five cases after 12-48 months. In one case surgical resection detected the involvement of perigastric lymph nodes overlooked by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Neither progression of the disease nor a high-grade component was documented by repeated gastric mappings, EUS and complete stagings in the other four cases. After histological remission five relapses of low-grade and one relapse of high-grade MALT lymphoma were found 12-48 months after eradication. Subsequent histological remission, without any additional therapy, was found in three relapsed cases. A rapid and persistent histological remission was obtained in 56 patients (73%). A late remission was observed in six cases. Monoclonal remission was found in half of the patients and was frequently delayed. Persistent monoclonality was associated with histological remission in the vast majority of patients. Our data confirm H. pylori eradication as the first choice therapy for early stage gastric low-grade MALT lymphoma and recommend extensive bioptic mapping and endoscopic sonography both in the local staging and in the regression evaluation. The rare cases of late remission encourage us to wait for at least 1 year after eradication of H. pylori. Longer follow-up studies will clarify the meaning of histological relapse/persistence and late remission. The study of non-responder cases could show us a step in lymphomagenesis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Effect of aspirin on platelet desaggregation induced by SR121566, a potent GP-IIb/IIIa antagonist.

Since results of recent clinical trial, performed in patients suffering from acute coronary syndromes, suggested that aspirin improved the efficacy of an anti-GP-IIb/IIIa therapy, this work was set to study the mechanism underlying such a mechanism of aspirin. SR121566 (3 mg/kg, i.v.), a new selective antagonist of the GP-IIb/IIIa complex inhibited thrombus formation which occurred following electrical stimulation of the carotid artery of rabbits. On rabbits pre-treated with aspirin (10 mg/kg, i.v.), a bolus injection of SR121566 produced a strong reversal of thrombosis compared with the effect obtained on rabbits treated with SR121566 alone. In vitro, the addition of SR121566 to human platelets during the ADP-induced aggregation process resulted in a reversal of the aggregation which was nearly complete when it was added 30 s after the induction of aggregation, but progressively decreased when SR121566 was added at later times. ADP-induced platelet aggregation in the presence of aspirin (1 mM) was comparable to that obtained in control platelet-rich plasma, but the addition of SR121566 at all time points of the aggregation process was followed by a complete reversal of the aggregation even at later time points (> 120 s). Histological examination of the platelet aggregates showed a clear-cut difference in the platelet content between control and aspirin-treated platelets which contained much more dense granules. Inhibition of the release of thrombospondin by aspirin may account for a significant part of its pro-desaggregating activity as demonstrated by the effect of the tetrapeptide VTCG, an inhibitor of the binding of thrombospondin to its receptor, which strongly potentiated the activity of SR121566 as a desaggregating agent. Therefore, our study shows that aspirin pretreatment promotes a 'thrombolytic' activity of GP-IIb/IIIa inhibitors and, in particular, of SR121566, a potent and selective member of this new class of compounds. This effect is mainly due to an inhibition of the release of the platelet granule content and in particular to thrombospondin. This observation may contribute to a greater efficacy of GP-IIb/IIIa inhibitors for the treatment of thrombosis in atherosclerotic patients.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed2000

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 proteolysis and growth of athyreotic infants in the first weeks of life.

UNLABELLED: To gain a better understanding of the growth of athyreotic newborns in the first weeks of life, we evaluated auxological parameters and determined the serum levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and free IGF-I, and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in 15 hypothyroid infants (10 females) at a mean age of 25 d of life, immediately before the beginning of L-thyroxine therapy, and at 3 and 6 mo of life. Fourteen normal infants (9 females) of the same age were studied as controls. IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity was evaluated in 8 patients and in 8 controls at 25 d and 6 mo of life. There was no significant difference concerning weight and length between the patients and controls at birth, 25 d, 3 and 6 mo of life. The blood GH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly lower in patients at diagnosis than in controls of the same age (p < 0.01 for all parameters), as well as IGFBP-3 studied by Western blotting. At diagnosis, the patients' free IGF-I level was within the control range, but the free IGF-I percentage of total IGF-I was higher than in the controls (p < 0.01). IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity was found to be greater in the patients (p < 0.01). At 6 mo of life, after therapy, none of these parameters was different from those of the controls. CONCLUSION: Increased IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity in our patients at diagnosis, favouring IGF-I bioavailability, could account for normal free IGF-I levels and in turn for their normal growth pattern during the first weeks of life and before the start of treatment.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Renal angiomyolipoma with epithelioid sarcomatous transformation and metastases: demonstration of the same genetic defects in the primary and metastatic lesions.

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a benign neoplasm that occurs either sporadically or in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and shows frequent allelic losses at chromosome arm 16p. It has been suggested recently that the melanogenesis marker-positive perivascular epithelioid cell (PEC) has been found consistently in AML. The authors report a 50-year-old woman without evidence of TSC affected by classic renal AML containing an area composed of atypical epithelioid cells with the same morphoimmunophenotypic characters of PEC. After 7 years from surgical removal of the lesion, the patient developed a local recurrence and successive lung and abdominal metastases that showed morphologic and immunohistochemical features overlapping those of the epithelioid area of the previously removed AML. Genetic analysis showed that the classic AML and its epithelioid area as well as the pulmonary and abdominal metastases shared the same allelic loss on chromosome arm 16p. Based on these findings, the authors view this case as evidence of a malignant transformation of a classic AML with morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic demonstration of its clonal origin.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

Cancer of the ampulla of Vater: chromosome 17p allelic loss is associated with poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of the ampulla of Vater kills 60% of affected patients. Local spread of the tumour (T stage) is the only reliable prognostic factor. Nevertheless, any cancer stage includes long term survivors and patients dying from the disease. The molecular anomalies involved in this process have the potential to serve as additional prognostic markers. AIM: To evaluate if allelic losses (LOH) of chromosomes 17p and 18q may be of prognostic value in multivariate survival analysis. METHODS: We examined 53 ampullary cancers for chromosome 17p and 18q LOH using microsatellite markers and DNA from paraffin embedded tumours. All patients were treated by surgery alone (pancreaticoduodenectomy). Multivariate survival analysis included age, sex, tumour size, macroscopic appearance, grade of differentiation, T stage, lymph node metastasis, and chromosome 17p and 18q status. RESULTS: Chromosome 17p and 18q LOH were detected in 28 (53%) and 18 (34%) cancers, respectively. Multivariate survival analysis indicated chromosome 17p status as an independent prognostic factor together with T stage. The five year survival for chromosome 17p retention and 17p loss was 80% and 7%, respectively. The risk of death from cancer within the five year follow up period for patients with cancers harbouring chromosome 17p LOH was 11 times higher than that of patients with cancers retaining chromosome 17p (p<0.0001), regardless of the tumour stage at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Chromosome 17p status is an independent prognostic factor among ampullary cancers at the same stage. The combined use of T stage and chromosome 17p status may help in deciding whether ampullary cancer patients require additional therapy other than surgery alone.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas. Verona University Pancreatic Team.

METHODS: Literature is thoroughly reviewed and compared to our own experience. RESULTS: Clinical history data do not appear to be useful in differentiating between benign and malignant cases. Usually IPMT patients are older than individuals suffering from chronic obstructive pancreatitis and tend to drink and smoke less. Malignant forms of IPMT are more frequently associated with diabetes, and pain seems to be more frequent in benign cases, although these findings are not confirmed in all reports. Also, laboratory tests are of little use, whereas imaging findings currently enable us to reach a correct diagnosis in about 70% of cases without differentiating in a reliable and definitive way the benign or malignant nature of the neoplasm. The WHO classification appears to be related to the different prognosis. Surgery, whenever possible, is the gold standard treatment. CONCLUSION: IPMT are a recent established clinical entity embracing a spectrum of lesions ranging from benign to malignant infiltrating cases. The only recognized radical treatment is surgery. Despite diagnostic capacity based on clinical presentation and imaging techniques has becoming increasingly refined we are still incapable of identifying the different degree of malignancy preoperatively, if any. The lengthy mean survival after resection confirm the high potential cure rate of IPMT of the pancreas.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗