Branch-duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Research Articles

Impact of age, comorbidities and relevant changes on surveillance strategy of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: a competing risk analysis.

Cost-effectiveness of surveillance for branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) is debated. We combined different categories of risks of IPMN progression and of IPMN-unrelated mortality to improve surveillance strategies. Retrospective analysis of 926 presumed BD-IPMNs lacking worrisome features (WFs)/high-risk stigmata (HRS) under surveillance. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CACI) defined the severity of comorbidities. IPMN relevant changes included development of WF/HRS, pancreatectomy or death for IPMN or pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic malignancy-unrelated death was recorded. Cumulative incidence of IPMN relevant changes were estimated using the competing risk approach. 5-year cumulative incidence of relevant changes was 17.83% and 1.6% developed pancreatic malignancy. 5-year cumulative incidences for IPMN relevant changes were 13.73%, 19.93% and 25.04% in low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups, respectively. Age ≥75 (HR: 4.15) and CACI >3 (HR: 3.61) were independent predictors of pancreatic malignancy-unrelated death. 5-year cumulative incidence for death for other causes was 15.93% for age ≥75+CACI >3 group and 1.49% for age <75+CACI ≤3. 5-year cumulative incidence of IPMN relevant changes were 13.94% in patients with age <75+CACI ≤3 compared with 29.60% in those with age ≥75+CACI >3. In this group 5-year rate of malignancy-free patients was 95.56% with a 5-year survival of 79.51%. Although it is not uncommon the occurrence of changes considered by current guidelines as relevant during surveillance of low risk BD-IPMNs, malignancy rate is low and survival is significantly affected by competing patients' age and comorbidities. IPMN surveillance strategy should be tailored based on these features and modulated over time.

The diagnostic value of abbreviated MRI protocol in the surveillance of Branch-Duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

PurposeTo assess the diagnostic value of abbreviated protocol (AP) MRI to detect the degeneration signs in branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) in patients undergoing a routine MRI follow-up. MethodsThis dual-center retrospective study include patients with BD-IPMN diagnosed on initial comprehensive protocol (CP) MRI who underwent routine MRI follow-up. CP included axial and coronal T2-weighted images (T2WI), axial T1-weighted images (T1WI) before and after contrast administration, 3D MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI). Two APs, eliminating dynamic sequences ± DWI, were extracted from CP. Two radiologists evaluated the APs separately for IPMN degeneration signs according to Fukuoka criteria and compared the results to the follow-up CP. In patients who underwent EUS, imaging findings were correlated with pathological results. Per-patient and per-lesion sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of APs were calculated. Additionally, the acquisition time for different protocols was calculated. ResultsOne hundred-fourteen patients (56.1 % women, median age: 71 years) with 256 lesions were included. Degeneration signs were observed in 24.6 % and 12.1 % per-patient and per-lesion, respectively. Regarding APs, the per patient sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy in the detection of the degeneration signs were 100 %, 93.5 %, 83.3 %, 100 %, and 95.1 %, respectively. No additional role for DWI was detected. AP without DWI economized nearly half of CP acquisition time (388 versus 663 s, respectively). ConclusionAP can confidently replace CP for BD-IPMN follow-up with high sensitivity and PPV while offering benefits such as patient comfort, improved MRI accessibility, and reduced dedicated time for image analysis. DWI necessitates special consideration. Clinical Relevance StatementOur data suggest that APs safely detect all degeneration signs of IPMN. While there is an overestimation of mural nodules due to the lack of contrast injection, this occurs in a negligible number of patients.

Optimal age to discontinue long-term surveillance of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: comparative cost-effectiveness of surveillance by age

ObjectiveCurrent guidelines recommend long-term image-based surveillance for patients with low-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). This simulation study aimed to examine the comparative cost-effectiveness of continued versus discontinued surveillance at...

Optimal Surveillance Interval of Branch Duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas

Despite the increasing prevalence of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), data on the growth and malignant conversion rates based on long-term surveillance cohorts are limited. Many international guidelines recommend surveillance for benign lesions, but the optimal interval and duration are unclear. To determine the optimal surveillance protocol for IPMN and propose which patients may be exempted from surveillance. This large-scale, international cohort study examined data of 3825 patients with IPMN treated at 5 tertiary pancreatic centers. Included were patients with branch duct (BD) IPMN who underwent surveillance or surgery between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 2020. After a thorough review, 3656 patients were included in the analytic sample. Changes in cyst size, worrisome features or high-risk stigmata, and malignant conversion rates were assessed. Patients who underwent surveillance over 5 years were compared to suggest discontinuation of surveillance protocol. Clinical data collection began in January 1, 2021, and the mean (SD) follow-up duration was 84 (47.7) months. The data analysis was performed from May 2, 2022, through September 14, 2022. The patients with BD-IPMN were followed up based on International Association of Pancreatology guidelines. Patients with suspicious malignant neoplasms during surveillance underwent surgical resection. The main outcome of this study was the optimal follow-up interval and duration of BD-IPMN surveillance. The association among cyst size, growth rate, and progression was examined using descriptive statistics. Of the 3656 patients with BD-IPMN in the analytic sample (1973 [54.0%] female; mean [SD] age, 63.7 [10.2] years), 172 (4.7%) were confirmed to have malignant lesions through surgery. Considering cyst growth, the time to develop worrisome features, and malignant conversion, a 1.5-, 1-, and 0.5-year surveillance interval could be optimal for cysts smaller than 20 mm, 20 to 30 mm, and 30 mm, respectively, after initial short-term (6-month) follow-up. Patients with cysts smaller than 20 mm, no worrisome features, and no growth during 5-year surveillance did not show malignant conversion after 5 years of follow-up and had time to progression of greater than 10 years. These findings suggest that BD-IPMN surveillance may depend on the size of the cyst and morphologic changes at the initial 6-month follow-up. For patients with small cysts (ie, <20 mm) with no morphologic changes during the initial 5-year surveillance period, surveillance may be discontinued for those unfit for surgery or who have a limited life expectancy of 10 years or less.

Abstract A011: Proteomic expression using exosomes in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) patients to inform risk stratification

Abstract Introduction Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), the most common type of pancreatic mucinous cysts, harbor risks of malignant progression of approximately 50% and 5% when found in the main duct (MD) and branch duct (BD), respectively. Surgical resection is standard of care in patients with high-risk stigmata and in some “indeterminate” cases, while surveillance modalities, which may include invasive imaging, are recommended for cases of cysts with “worrisome features”. Given the poor prognosis of late-stage pancreatic cancer, it is critical to accurately risk-stratify patients with IPMNs. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the association of IPMN features with protein markers using extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, isolated from the blood of patients with resected IPMNs. Experimental procedure We evaluated 19 patients with IPMNs who underwent surgical resection (Whipple or distal pancreatectomy). Blood was collected before surgery and the EVs were isolated from plasma using an alternating current electrokinetics (ACE) platform. The concentration of 52 EV proteins was measured using a multiplex immunoassay. Surgical explant pathology reports were available and reviewed on all 19 patients. Data are presented as average concentration and 95% CI, and p-values represent the two-tailed t-test. Results Average age was 69 years (range: 47-83) and, of the 19 patients, 12 (63%) were male. Seventeen patients never smoked or were former smokers (quit &amp;gt; 20 years) before sample collection. A total of 14 patients had acute or chronic pancreatitis (7 historical; 7 found in surgical explant) while 4 patients had previously undiagnosed pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) at the time of surgery. In our EV analysis, we found multiple EV protein biomarkers to be elevated in patients with various IPMN characteristics. Marker A was significantly elevated in patients with high-grade dysplasia (n=10) compared to low-grade dysplasia (n=9) (10.8 [8.4-13.2] vs. 7.5 [5.8 - 9.2] pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.0241), as defined by surgical explant pathology. When examining 13 patients with main-duct or mixed-type IPMNs, markers B, C, and D were elevated compared to the 6 patients with branch-duct or unspecified IPMNs (marker B: 1.9 [1.4-2.3] vs. 1.1 [0.9-1.4] ng/mL, p=0.0099; marker C: 524.3 [400.2-648.4] vs. 318.8 [209.9-427.7] pg/mL, p=0.0102; marker D: 65.8 [43.8-87.7] vs. 39.9 [31.7-48.1] pg/mL, p=0.0281). Conclusions In this pilot study that evaluated 19 patients with IPMNs, we identified multiple EV proteins that are differentially expressed in subgroups of patients. Our findings suggest that these differentially expressed proteomic markers can lead to the development of an algorithm for IPMN risk-stratification and possibly help discern histopathologic grade. Future studies will expand on these preliminary results with the aim of identifying a panel of biomarkers that can risk-stratify IPMNs to guide medical decision-making. Citation Format: Harmeet Dhani, Roberta V. Alexander, Juan Pablo Hinestrosa, Jesus Izaguirre-Carbonell, Dove Keith, Paul R. Billings, Gregory Cote', Rosalie Sears. Proteomic expression using exosomes in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) patients to inform risk stratification [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Pancreatic Cancer; 2023 Sep 27-30; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A011.

Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasm Concomitant with Branch-duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Reports of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (P-NEN) concomitant with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) are gradually increasing. However, many of these cases were diagnosed in the resected specimen incidentally. We herein report a case of minimal P-NEN concomitant with branch-duct IPMN that was successfully diagnosed preoperatively by contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and an EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy. These findings suggest that P-NEN as well as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma should be considered as concurrent tumors developing in patients with IPMNs. EUS is an essential modality when evaluating IPMN for detecting small lesions concomitant with IPMN.

In the presence of a stable branch duct IPMN for five years, do we have the right to stop monitoring?

In the presence of a stable branch duct IPMN for five years, do we have the right to stop monitoring?

Branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (BD-IPMN): a retrospective study on neoplastic risk after 5 years surveillance

Objectives: Long term surveillance of branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN) remains controversial, particularly regarding cysts follow up &gt; 5 years. The primary endpoint of this study was to assess the risk of malignant transformation of presumed BD-IPMN during follow-up and identify clinical and morphological predictors of malignancy. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from all patients with a presumed BD-IPMN diagnosis at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie CHUS, from 2004-2018. Results: The final database included 380 patients with presumed BD-IPMN with a median follow up of 43,9 months (IQR 28,6-73,3 months). Mean age at diagnosis was 65,5 years [27-90], 159 patients (42,8%) were male and 17 patients (4,5%) underwent resection of their lesion during their surveillance period. In our cohort, 132 patients (34,7%) had a follow-up &gt; 5 years. Overall risk of malignancy was 2.1% [0.9%-4.1%]. During follow-up, neoplastic transformation was observed in 2/132 patients (1,5%) surveilled &gt; 5 years. Malignancy was significantly associated with cyst growth &gt; 2,5 mm/year (57,1% vs 5,8% p &lt; 0,001) dilated MPD (71,4% vs 4,9% p&lt;0,001), solid component (71,4% vs 1,3% p&lt;0,001), positive cytology (37,5% vs 0,5% p&lt;0,001), development of high-risk stigmatas (87,5% vs 1,9% p &lt;0,001) or worrisome features (87,5% vs 23,9% p&lt;0,001) during follow up and symptoms of jaundice (25% vs 0,5% p=0,002) and abdominal pain (50% vs 9,4% p=0,005). Conclusion: While overall malignancy risk remains low in presumed BD-IPMN, continuous surveillance should be pursued after 5 years in surgically fit individuals, particularly in patients who develop our identified risk factors.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for pancreatic cystic lesions: a comprehensive review.

Advancements in diagnostic radiology have amplified the incorporation of these techniques into routine clinical practice. Concurrently, the frequency of incidentally identifying pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) has surged. PCLs encompass diverse categories contingent upon their origin. Among them, branch duct-intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) are categorized as mucinous cystic lesions that have malignant potential. Even solid neoplasms occasionally show cystic degeneration. Therefore, precise differential PCL diagnosis is crucial to optimize clinical management strategies and detect malignant transformations. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) affords comprehensive visualization of the pancreas with high-resolution ultrasound, complemented by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) under real-time EUS guidance, which is a minimally invasive procedure for obtaining pathological samples. This synergy has established EUS and EUS-FNA as vital procedures in the management of PCLs, enabling differentiation of PCLs. Cyst fluid analysis has played a pivotal role in deciding the optimal management strategy. The efficacy of cytological analysis is limited by scant cytologic material. The "string sign" test evaluates fluid viscosity, and its simplicity warrants initial consideration. Amylase and tumor markers, such as CEA, have been studied, but they yield varied sensitivity and specificity. Glucose and genetic mutations (KRAS, GNAS) exhibit promise, while comprehensive genomic profiling underscores genetic insights. Through-the-needle biopsy and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy also show high diagnostic yield. EUS-FNA, however, entails risks like infection and needle tract seeding, emphasizing the need for proper utilization. Pancreatic cyst fluid analysis augments diagnostic accuracy and informs clinical decisions, making it a valuable adjunct to imaging.

Abdominal ultrasound in the characterization of branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: A new tool for surveillance of low-risk patients?

BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is regarded as gold-standard for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) follow-up. Given the low risk of transformation and the increasing population under surveillance, there is growing interest in identifying optimal follow-up strategies. AimTo evaluate reliability of abdominal ultrasound (US) for characterization of low-risk IPMN, compared to MRI. MethodsProspective monocentric study among 79 consecutive patients with a suspected BD-IPMN on US. Each patient underwent confirmatory MRI. We evaluated Cohen's kappa statistic and concordance rate (CR) between MRI and US. ResultsOf 79 suspected IPMNs on US, MRI confirmed 71 BD-IPMNs. There was high agreement for cyst location and number (CR and kappa of 77.5 % and 81.7 % and 0.66±0.08 and 0.62±0.11 respectively). We found high agreement for cyst size (CR=96.5 %, kappa=0.93±0.05) and main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation (CR=100 %, kappa=1). There was a good agreement for thickened septa (CR=80.3 %, kappa=0.38±0.12). US seems inferior to MRI for the identification of mural nodules < 5 mm (CR=97.2 %, kappa=0). ConclusionsIn a cohort of low-risk BD-IPMN, US presented high agreement rate with MRI regarding location, number, and size. There was a good agreement for MPD dilatation and thickened septa, while US underperform for detection of mural nodules < 5 mm.

Tumor-to-blood pool ratio of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography's standardized uptake value as a useful parameter indicating malignant transformation in pancreatic branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm compared to the international Fukuoka guidelines: a retrospective cohort study from surgical resections

BackgroundIdentifying malignant transformation in pancreatic branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) remains challenging, but the standardized uptake value (SUV) obtained from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT has the potential to become a valuable parameter for differentiation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of SUV of FDG-PET/CT in distinguishing low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC) within BD-IPMNs. MethodsWe assessed 58 patients with confirmed BD-IPMN undergoing surgery between 2008 and 2022. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted using the tumor-to-blood pool ratio (TBR) of FDG-PET/CT in two scenarios: one considering HGD + IPMC as positive and the other considering only IPMC as positive. ResultsIn the cohort of 58 cases, there were 39 females, and the median age was 71 years. The median TBR value was 1.45 (range, 0.35–25.44). The TBRs exhibited a significant correlation with each histopathology (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in the multivariate analysis, TBR was independently significant in both scenarios, with HGD + IPMC defined as malignant (p = 0.001) and with only IPMC defined as malignant (p = 0.024). ConclusionsTBR might have the potential to serve as a valuable parameter for indicating malignant transformation in pancreatic BD-IPMNs.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: Uncommon imaging presentation, evolution and comparison of guidelines

Pancreatic cystic lesions are often asymptomatic, incidentally detected and include a range of entities with varying degrees of concern for malignancy. Among these, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are considered premalignant pancreatic lesions, with a broad pathological spectrum ranging from lesions without dysplasia, which can be managed conservatively, to malignant lesions that require surgical resection. The increasing use of CT and MRI has led to increased recognition of this entity incidentally, with branch-duct IPMN representing the most common subtype and the most challenging lesions in terms of patient management. The main imaging modality involved in diagnosis and surveillance of IPMN is MRI. Radiologists play an important role in the management of patients with IPMN, including lesion detection, characterization, follow-up and prognostication, allowing early MRI identification of features that are concerning for malignancy. The main aim of this pictorial review is to illustrate MRI features of IPMN and to discuss risk stratification scores based on different guidelines, with a main focus on branch-duct IPMN. The secondary aims include the presentation of common and uncommon imaging evolution of BD-IPMN as well as the discussion on current controversies on the appropriate management of IPMN.

Are the screening guidelines for branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms cost-effective in an Australian setting?

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are cystic neoplasms of the pancreatic ductal system. These incidental cystic lesions are increasingly found on radiological imaging and screened for malignant transformation. The Fukuoka consensus guidelines recommend screening with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or endoscopic ultrasound. Branch duct IPMN (BD-IPMN) have significantly lower malignancy and mortality rates compared to main duct IPMN. Our aim was to assess the cost-effectiveness of guideline's recommendations for BD-IPMN screening of cysts between 2 and 3 cm in an Australian context. Markov model decision analysis was used to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of screening. The ICER was compared to a willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of $50 000. We performed scenario analysis to examine the effect of cyst size and non-linearity of malignancy rate on ICER. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed on our input parameters. Screening resulted in 586 quality adjusted life years gained and a net present value of $20 379 939, resulting in a base-case ICER of $34 758. After scenario analysis for non-linearity of malignancy rate the ICER increases to $64 555, which is above the WTP threshold. PSA indicates that ICER is most susceptible to the pre-test malignancy rate. This cost analysis demonstrates that screening of 2-3 cm BD-IPMN according to current guidelines is unlikely to be cost-effective in an Australian context. To determine the true ICER, a cost analysis on real-world data is required.

Pancreatic cancer detection with a non-contrast MR protocol: is it reliable?

PurposeThe pancreatic cancer (PC) is the 4th leading cancer-related death, becoming the second one by 2030, with a 5 year survival rate of 8%. Considering its increased incidence in high-risk categories compared to the general population, we aimed to validate a non-contrast MR protocol, to detect PC in its earliest phase, which could be suitable as a screening tool in high-risk patients.Materials and methodsIn this retrospective study, we selected 200 patients (> 40 years) from our radiological database, which performed upper abdominal MRI between 2012 and 2017. 100 were negative for pancreatic lesions and 100 positive for pancreatic lesion (< 30 mm). The latter group included: 40 PDAC (pancreatic adenocarcinoma), 42 BD-IPMN (Branch Duct- Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm), 10 PNET(pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor), 4 SCN(serous cystic neoplasm), 3 IPS(intrapancreatic spleen), 1 MCN(mucinous cystic neoplasm). Three readers (R1, R2 and R3) with a high, medium and low experience, respectively, analysed, first, the non-contrast MR sequences (single-shot T2w breath-hold, GE T1w FS, DWI and 2D/3D MRCP), and then the standard MR protocol, independently, randomly and anonymously. Readers identified or excluded the presence of pancreatic lesion, in both reading sessions. These results were compared with the histopathological diagnosis, and then divided into 3 different classes of lesions: all lesions, pancreatic adenocarcinoma and solid lesion. Mcnemar’s test was used to compare the results. The inter-observer agreement was determined according to the kappa statistic in both protocols, and then the inter-protocol agreement was calculated.ResultsThe non-contrast MR protocol has reached statistical parameters values ranging between 83% in SE (sensitivity) by R3 and 99% in NPV (negative predictive value) by R1. The standard MR protocol has reported slight increasing statistical parameters compared to those of the proposed one. However, there are not significant statistical differences between the both protocols. The proposed non-contrast MR protocol has reported the highest NPVs in the PDAC group detection (R1: 99%, R2: 99%, R3: 98%). In all groups of lesions, the agreement between the two protocols was excellent for each Reader ranging from 96 to 98%.ConclusionThe proposed non-contrast MR protocol showed high PC detection values and a time execution ≤ 20 min. Therefore, it can be proposed as a screening tool in high-risk patients.

Surveillance for Presumed BD-IPMN of the Pancreas: Stability, Size, and Age Identify Targets for Discontinuation

Currently, most patients with branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN) are offered indefinite surveillance, resulting in health care costs with questionable benefits regarding cancer prevention. This study sought to identify patients in whom the risk of cancer is equivalent to an age-matched population, thereby justifying discontinuation of surveillance. International multicenter study involving presumed BD-IPMN without worrisome features (WFs) or high-risk stigmata (HRS) at diagnosis who underwent surveillance. Clusters of individuals at risk for cancer development were defined according to cyst size and stability for at least 5 years, and age-matched controls were used for comparison using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for pancreatic cancer. Of 3844 patients with presumed BD-IPMN, 775 (20.2%) developed WFs and 68 (1.8%) HRS after a median surveillance of 53 (interquartile range 53) months. Some 164 patients (4.3%) underwent surgery. Of the overall cohort, 1617 patients (42%) remained stable without developing WFs or HRS for at least 5 years. In patients 75 years or older, the SIR was 1.12 (95% CI, 0.23-3.39), and in patients 65 years or older with stable lesions smaller than 15 mm in diameter after 5 years, the SIR was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.11-3.42). The all-cause mortality for patients who did not develop WFs or HRS for at least 5 years was 4.9% (n= 79), and the disease-specific mortality was 0.3% (n= 5). The risk of developing pancreatic malignancy in presumed BD-IPMN without WFs or HRS after 5 years of surveillance is comparable to that of the general population depending on cyst size and patient age. Surveillance discontinuation could be justified after 5 years of stability in patients older than 75 years with cysts <30 mm, and in patients 65 years or older who have cysts ≤15 mm.

Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance: Who, Why, How?

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are widely prevalent and commonly encountered in abdominal radiology. Some PCLs can be definitively identified at imaging as benign subtypes or those with malignant potential, while others remain indeterminate. Notably, the degree of malignant potential and natural history of the most common subtype, branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, are not clearly established. In the work-up of PCLs, patients may further be identified as high-risk individuals who are at elevated risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma due to familial and genetic factors. This review describes current PCL surveillance and management guidelines and highlights ongoing controversies and future directions to aid radiologists in their daily practice.

Effectiveness and safety of central pancreatectomy in benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic body lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The best approach for treating benign or low-grade malignant lesions localized in the pancreatic neck or body remains debatable. Conventional pancreatoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy (DP) are associated with a risk of impairment of pancreatic function at long-term follow-up. With advances in technology and surgical skills, the use of central pancreatectomy (CP) has gradually increased. To compare the safety, feasibility, and short-term and long-term clinical benefits of CP and DP in matched cases. The PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched to identify studies published from database inception to February 2022 that compared CP and DP. This meta-analysis was performed using R software. Twenty-six studies matched the selection criteria, including 774 CP and 1713 DP cases. CP was associated with significantly higher rates of operative time (P<0.0001), blood loss (P<0.01), overall and clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (P<0.01), postoperative hemorrhage (P<0.0001), reoperation (P=0.0196), delayed gastric emptying (P=0.0096), hospital stay (P<0.01), and morbidity (P<0.0001) but with a significantly lower incidence of overall endocrine and exocrine insufficiency (P<0.0001), and new-onset (P<0.0001) and worsening diabetes mellitus (P<0.0001) than DP. CP should be considered as an alternative to DP in selected cases such as without pancreatic disease, length of the residual distal pancreas ≥5cm, branch-duct IPMNs, and a low risk of POPF after adequate evaluation.

Natural history of low-risk branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and indeterminate pancreatic cysts and its implications on surveillance

Hwee Leong TAN*, Jonathan HEE, Jania WU, Grace R.S. LIM, Damien M.Y. TAN, Albert LOW, Choon Hua THNG, Ye Xin KOH, Brian K.P. GOH. Ann Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg 2023;27:S91. https://doi.org/10.14701/ahbps.2023S1.OP-5-4

In Brief

The management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) continues to evolve. In particular, the indications for resection of branch duct IPMN have changed from early resection to more deliberate observation as proposed by the international consensus guidelines of 2006 and 2012. Another guideline proposed by the American Gastroenterological Association in 2015 restricted indications for surgery more stringently and recommended physicians to stop surveillance if no significant change had occurred in a pancreatic cyst after five years of surveillance, or if a patient underwent resection and a non-malignant IPMN was found. Whether or not it is safe to do so, as well as the method and interval of surveillance, has generated substantial debate. Based on a consensus symposium held during the meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology in Sendai, Japan, in 2016, the working group has revised the guidelines regarding prediction of invasive carcinoma and high-grade dysplasia, surveillance, and postoperative follow-up of IPMN. As the working group did not recognize the need for major revisions of the guidelines, we made only minor revisions and added most recent articles where appropriate. The present guidelines include updated information and recommendations based on our current understanding, and highlight issues that remain controversial or where further research is required.

Long-term (10-year) outcomes and prognostic factors in resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm tumors in Finland: A nationwide retrospective study

BackgroundThe degree of dysplasia is the most important prognostic factor for patients with resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms are predominantly premalignant conditions; in most cases, surveillance is an adequate treatment. If worrisome features are present, surgery should be considered. However, there is limited data on the long-term prognosis of resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. We aimed to ascertain the nationwide survival of patients with resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and identify factors associated with survival. MethodsThis is a retrospective nationwide cohort study. All intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms operated on in Finland between 2000 and 2008 were identified. Patient records were evaluated, and original radiologic data and histologic samples were re-evaluated. Survival data were collected after a 10-year follow-up period. ResultsOut of 2,024 pancreatic resections, 88 were performed for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. The median age of the patients was 65 years. Histologic diagnoses were main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm 47/88 (53,4%), mixed-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm 27/88 (30.7%), and branchduct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm 14/88 (15.9%). Of the tumors, 40/88 (45.5%) were low-grade dysplasia, 9/88 (10.2%) high-grade, and 39/88 (44.3%) were invasive cancer. The median survival was 121 (range 0–252) months. Ten-year survival was 72.5%, 66.7%, and 23.1% in the low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, invasive cancer groups, respectively. Ten-year mortality for pancreatic cancer was 5%, 9.1%, and 71.8% in the low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, invasive cancer groups, respectively. ConclusionOverall, 44.3% of the patients had a malignant tumor, and three-quarters (74.5%) of the main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms were malignant or high-grade dysplasia at the time of surgery. Ten-year survival was significantly better in patients operated on at the stage of a premalignant tumor (low-grade dysplasia + high-grade dysplasia) than in patients operated on at the stage of a malignant tumor.