Ipmn stands for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, a tumor that grows inside the cells of the pancreatic ducts (the pancreatic ducts are the “tubes” in the pancreas that carry fluid to the intestines to aid in digestion). It is called an intraductal papillary mucinous tumor. Intraductal papillary mucinous tumors are also characterized by tumor cells that produce a sticky fluid or “mucin”. This mucus can form pancreatic cysts. Although IPMN is a benign tumor, if left untreated, IPMN has the potential to develop into pancreatic cancer. Therefore, IPMN is considered a precancerous state. Pathologists classify intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) into two broad categories: those associated with invasive cancer and those not associated with invasive cancer. Patients with surgical removal of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms without invasive cancer have a good prognosis, whereas patients with surgical removal of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms with invasive cancer have a poorer prognosis.