ObjectiveTo investigate the guiding value of preoperative imaging and intraoperative rapid pathology in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cystic neoplasm (PCN).MethodsThe clinical data of 205 patients with PCN diagnosed by pathology from July 14, 2003 to July 31, 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The precise and fuzzy diagnostic rate and misdiagnosis rate of PCN by preoperative imaging and intraoperative rapid pathology were analyzed.ResultsThe most commonly used preoperative imaging methods were ultrasound and CT, in 146 cases (82.95%) and 141 cases (80.11%), respectively. There were 54 cases (30.68%) with MRI. Of them, 47 cases were examined by single examination, 129 cases received combined examination, of which 123 cases (95.35%) were examined by ultrasound combined with CT. The precise and fuzzy diagnostic rate of PCN by ultrasound, CT, and MRI were 81.51% (119/146), 81.56% (115/141), and 87.04% (47/54), respectively. Comparison of ultrasound with CT and MRI showed statistical significance (χ2=47.747, P<0.001; χ2=11.873, P=0.018), but no significant difference was observed between CT and MRI (χ2=5.012, P>0.05). In 27 cases of false diagnosis by ultrasound, no obvious abnormality was found in 14 cases (51.85%), followed by misdiagnosis as pancreatic pseudocyst (11 cases, 40.74%). Of the 26 cases misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer by CT, 57.69% (15 cases) were misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer; 7 cases were misdiagnosed by MRI, 42.86% (3 cases) of patients were misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer and pancreatic pseudocyst. Thirty-one cases were misdiagnosed by intraoperative rapid pathology, and most of them misdiagnosed as pancreatic pseudocyst (10 cases, 32.26%). The next was SPN misdiagnosed as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (7 cases, 22.58%). The precise and fuzzy diagnostic rates of PCN were 81.58% (124/152), 86.84% (132/152), and 97.37% (148/152) in preoperative imaging, intraoperative rapid pathology, and preoperative imaging combined with intraoperative rapid pathology, while the misdiagnostic rates were 18.42% (28/152), 13.16% (20/152), and 2.63% (4/152), respectively.ConclusionsIn preoperative imaging and intraoperative rapid pathological examination, it is possible that ultrasound could not find PCN lesions. CT and MRI are most likely to be misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer. Intraoperative rapid pathological examination misdiagnosed as pancreatic pseudocyst is most common. Perfect preoperative imaging and rapid intraoperative pathology can improve the correct diagnosis rate of PCN and avoid unreasonable surgical intervention measures.