Management Of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions Research Articles

Using a customized GPT to provide guideline-based recommendations for management of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Background and study aims Rising prevalence of pancreatic cysts and inconsistent management guidelines necessitate innovative approaches. New features of large language models (LLMs), namely custom GPT creation, provided by ChatGPT can be utilized to integrate multiple guidelines and settle inconsistencies. Methods A custom GPT was developed to provide guideline-based management advice for pancreatic cysts. Sixty clinical scenarios were evaluated by both the custom GPT and gastroenterology experts. A consensus was reached between experts and review of guidelines and the accuracy of recommendations provided by the custom GPT was evaluated and compared with experts. Results The custom GPT aligned with expert recommendations in 87% of scenarios. Initial expert recommendations were correct in 97% and 87% of cases, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the accuracy of custom GPT and the experts. Agreement analysis using Cohen's and Fleiss' Kappa coefficients indicated consistency among experts and the custom GPT. Conclusions This proof-of-concept study shows the custom GPT's potential to provide accurate, guideline-based recommendations for pancreatic cyst management, comparable to expert opinions. The study highlights the role of advanced features of LLMs in enhancing clinical decision-making in fields with significant practice variability.

Diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic lesions for the non-gastroenterologist.

Although most pancreatic cystic lesions do not progress to cancer, they create concern for patients and their primary care physicians. The lack of consensus guidelines on diagnosis and surveillance of these lesions can lead to a management conundrum. We review current guidelines on diagnosis and management.

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.

Quality of Pancreatic Cyst Clinical Practice Guidelines.

There are various published clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of pancreatic cystic lesions. However, the quality of these guidelines has not been systematically appraised. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of CPGs published in the last 5 years for the management of pancreatic cysts. A systematic search of the PubMed database for eligible CPGs published between January 1, 2016 and November 17, 2021, using a sensitive filter. The quality of the CPGs was independently evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II instrument, with domain scores considered sufficient quality if >60% and good quality if >80%. The search yielded 4 eligible CPGs out of 426 citations. The scores varied for different domains for each CPG, with the overall median score being 79% for scope and purpose, 26% for stakeholder involvement, 51% for rigor of development, 69% for clarity of presentation, 14% for applicability, and 75% for editorial independence. The study revealed that the quality of the CPGs for pancreatic cyst management in adults remains moderate at best. Patient representatives were not involved in any of the CPG development process. There is a significant scope for improvement in methodological rigor and clarity of presentation.

The Hong Kong consensus recommendations on the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic lesions.

The finding of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL) on incidental imaging is becoming increasingly common. International studies report a prevalence of 2.2-44.7% depending on the population, imaging modality and indication for imaging, and the prevalence increases with age. Patients with PCL are at risk of developing pancreatic cancer, a disease with a poor prognosis. This publication summarizes recommendations for the diagnosis and management of PCL and post-operative pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) from a group of local specialists. Clinical evidence was consolidated from narrative reviews and consensus statements formulated during two online meetings in March 2022. The expert panel included gastroenterologists, hepatobiliary surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and endocrinologists. Patients with PCL require careful investigation and follow-up due to the risk of malignant transformation of these lesions. They should undergo clinical investigation and pancreas-specific imaging to classify lesions and understand the risk profile of the patient. Where indicated, patients should undergo pancreatectomy to excise PCL. Following pancreatectomy, patients are at risk of PEI, leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction and malnutrition. Therefore, such patients should be monitored for symptoms of PEI, and promptly treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). Patients with poor response to PERT may require increases in dose, addition of a proton pump inhibitor, and/or further investigation, including tests for pancreatic function. Patients are also at risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus after pancreatectomy; they should be screened and treated with insulin if indicated. These statements are an accurate summary of our approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with PCL and will be of assistance to clinicians treating these patients in a similar clinical landscape.

Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms: Translating Guidelines into Clinical Practice

A combination of several factors, including the increasing use of cross-sectional imaging and an aging population, has led to pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) becoming the most detected incidental pancreatic lesions. Accurate diagnosis and risk stratification of PCLs is challenging. In the last decade, several evidence-based guidelines have been published addressing the diagnosis and management of PCLs. However, these guidelines cover different subsets of patients with PCLs and offer varying recommendations regarding diagnostic assessment, surveillance, and surgical resection. Further, recent studies comparing the accuracy of various guidelines have reported significant variations in the rate of missed cancer versus unnecessary surgical resections. In clinical practice, it is challenging to decide which guideline to follow specifically. This article reviews the varying recommendations of the major guidelines and results of comparative studies, provides an overview of newer modalities not included in the guidelines, and offers perspectives on translating the guidelines into clinical practice.

Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms: A Concise Review

Pancreatic cystic lesions are being discovered as incidental lesions during cross-sectional imaging studies of the abdomen with increasing frequency. Endoscopic ultrasound is an important diagnostic modality for managing pancreatic cystic lesions. There are various types of pancreatic cystic lesions, from benign to malignant. Endoscopic ultrasound has a multifactorial role in delineating the morphology of pancreatic cystic lesions, ranging from fluid and tissue acquisition for analysis-fine needle aspiration and through-the-needle biopsy, respectively-to advanced imaging techniques, such as contrast-harmonic mode endoscopic ultrasound and EUS-guided needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy. In this review, we will summarize and provide an update on the specific role of EUS in the management of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm evolving into adenocarcinoma. Continual follow-up necessary.

We report a 62-year-old female with chronic pancreatitis after three episodes of severe acute pancreatitis. In 2008, an uneven main pancreatic duct (MPD) of 16 mm was found during an abdominal ultrasound. The follow-up was not continued until 2020, when a dilation of 27 mm of the MPD was discovered at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In 2022, another radiological test was carried out showing a dilation of the MPD of 40 mm with an intraductal tumoral lesion of 30 mm at the head of the pancreas). An echo-endoscopy was carried out and a pancreatic-duodenal tumour with a mixed pattern was discovered. Atypic cells were observed at the fine needle punction. A total duodenopancreatectomy was successfully carried out. In the anatomopathological macroscopic study a 14 cm-multi-cystic neoformation was seen and a solid tumour was discovered at the head of the pancreas that infiltrated the wall of the duodenum. In the longitudinal cross-section of the pancreatic body the MPD was seen to be severely dilated. A focal adenocarcinoma in a intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) was finally diagnosed. Pancreatic lesions are usually asymptomatic and are detected by chance during other imaging tests. The IPMN rates of malignancy have been reported of between 19 to 30%. The management of pancreatic cystic lesions still represents a clinical challenge. As always, the multi-disciplinary management is mandatory in this type of tumour.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Management of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions.

The rate of incidentally detected pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) has increased over the past decade and was recently reported at 8%. These lesions pose a unique challenge, as each subtype of PCL carries a different risk of malignant transformation, ranging from 0% (pancreatic pseudocyst) to 34–68% (main duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm). It is imperative to correctly risk-stratify the malignant potential of these lesions in order to provide the correct care course for the patient, ranging from monitoring to surgical intervention. Even with the multiplicity of guidelines (i.e., the American Gastroenterology Association guidelines and Fukuoka/International Consensus guidelines) and multitude of diagnostic information, risk stratification of PCLs falls short. Studies have reported that 25–64% of patients undergoing PCL resection have pancreatic cysts with no malignant potential, and up to 78% of mucin-producing cysts resected harbor no malignant potential on pathological evaluation. Clinicians are now incorporating artificial intelligence technology to aid in the management of these difficult lesions. This review article focuses on advancements in artificial intelligence within digital pathomics, radiomics, and genomics as they apply to the diagnosis and risk stratification of PCLs.

Recent advances in the diagnostic evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions.

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are becoming more prevalent due to more frequent abdominal imaging and the increasing age of the general population. It has become crucial to identify these PCLs and subsequently risk stratify them to guide management. Given the high morbidity associated with pancreatic surgery, only those PCLs at high risk for malignancy should undergo such treatment. However, current diagnostic testing is suboptimal at accurately diagnosing and risk stratifying PCLs. Therefore, research has focused on developing new techniques for differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous PCLs and identifying high risk lesions for malignancy. Cross sectional imaging radiomics can potentially improve the predictive accuracy of primary risk stratification of PCLs at the time of detection to guide invasive testing. While cyst fluid glucose has reemerged as a potential biomarker, cyst fluid molecular markers have improved accuracy for identifying specific types of PCLs. Endoscopic ultrasound guided approaches such as confocal laser endomicroscopy and through the needle microforceps biopsy have shown a good correlation with histopathological findings and are evolving techniques for identifying and risk stratifying PCLs. While most of these recent diagnostics are only practiced at selective tertiary care centers, they hold a promise that management of PCLs will only get better in the future.

Pancreatic cystic lesions: An 11 years (2010–2020) of experience at Usmanu Danfodiyo University teaching hospital, Sokoto

Background: Pancreatic cystic lesions are heterogeneous lesions that could be benign, borderline, or malignant. Neoplastic cystic lesions/tumours are rare tumours of the exocrine pancreas; difficult to diagnose preoperatively, and they account for 2%–10% of pancreatic tumours. Pancreatic pseudocyst is the most typical benign cystic pancreatic lesion arising from pancreatic ductal inflammation or ductal disruption. Both benign and malignant cystic pancreatic lesions are amenable to surgical treatments, with a good prognosis. Aim: The aim is to present our 11yrs of experience in the management of pancreatic cystic lesions. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of pancreatic cystic lesions managed at the General Surgery Unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, from 2010 to 2020. A retrospective review of the case notes of patients was done with an emphasis on biodata, presentation, investigations treatment offered, complications, and follow-up were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 22, Inc. (Chicago II, USA). Results: We managed 28 patients over 11 years. Three patients had pancreatic cystic tumours, whereas 25 patients had pancreatic pseudocysts. The age ranges of the patient with pancreatic cystic tumours are 29–50 years with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. All the patients had tumour excision with histology revealing two pseudopapillary tumours of the pancreas and one serous cystadenoma. The age range of patients with pseudocyst is 27–42 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1:3.1, and most of the patient had internal drainage. Conclusion: Pancreatic cystic tumours are uncommon pancreatic neoplasms that are amenable to surgical interventions with a good prognosis. Pancreatic pseudocyst was seen mainly in females within the young age group. Both benign and neoplastic pancreatic cystic lesions are amenable to surgical intervention with a good prognosis.

Cost-Benefit Analysis and Resource Implications of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Confocal Endomicroscopy in Pancreatic Cysts

Background and AimsEUS-guided needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) improves the diagnostic accuracy of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) but concerns regarding its expense have limited widespread adoption of this technology. We conducted a cost-benefit analysis to assess the healthcare resource implications of adding EUS-nCLE to the standard of care (SOC) management of PCLs. MethodsA post-hoc analysis of a prospective study (2015-2018) evaluating EUS-nCLE for the diagnosis of PCLs was performed. The SOC diagnosis was based on clinical history, PCL morphology, and cyst fluid analysis. A minimum of 5-years surveillance was included, the cost of EUS and MRI/MRCP was derived from institutional billing data (US$), and the total hospital costs (adjusted for inflation) for pancreatic operations were derived from the National (US) Readmission Database. ResultsA reference diagnosis was available in 93 subjects (mean cyst size = 36.4 ± 15.7 mm; surgical histopathology, n = 67 and diagnostic molecular markers in cyst fluid, n = 26). SOC and nCLE were discordant in 13 (14%) subjects. The addition of nCLE led to 11 subjects being clinically down-staged from mucinous to non-mucinous not warranting surgery (total cost savings = $1,080,418), 1 subject upstaged from non-mucinous to mucinous, warranting surgical resection (cost savings of 5-years surveillance: $46,200), and 1 subject incorrectly classified as non-mucinous (cost excess of 5-years surveillance: $46,200). Overall, the addition of nCLE led to a net savings of $ 442,438 (mean: $ 4757.40/patient) for this cohort. ConclusionEUS-nCLE is potentially cost-beneficial in the management of PCLs (≥3 cm) by preventing at least one unnecessary pancreatic surgery for every 10 subjects undergoing evaluation by current practices. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02516488.

Management of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: Making Sense of All the Guidelines

Pancreatic cystic lesions are now being identified in increasing frequency, providing an opportunity for early detection of advanced neoplasia. Multiple guidelines have been developed to help risk-stratify pancreatic cystic lesions. However, differences between guidelines provide a source of confusion for most practitioners. In this review, we attempt to highlight the similarities and differences between the guidelines, specifically evaluating their target populations and variations in surveillance/management strategies for pancreatic cystic lesions. The most commonly used guidelines provide varying strategies for the management and surveillance of pancreatic cystic lesions. By providing a consolidated and updated review of the literature, we find no one guideline performs better than the others. Despite existing guidelines, the most optimal risk stratification strategy for pancreatic cystic lesions remains unclear. However, advances in enhanced imaging modalities, cyst fluid analysis, and other biomarkers may offer effective options in the future.

S0085 Technical Feasibility and Diagnostic Yield of EUS-Guided Through-the-Needle Biopsy Forceps for Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: Experience of a Tertiary Referral Center

INTRODUCTION: Current management of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) is based on clinical presentation, imaging, and cyst fluid analysis. Nevertheless, a PCL may remain a diagnostic challenge after completion of all standard investigations. Recently, through-the-needle biopsy (TTNB) sampling was added to the armamentarium for PCL evaluation during endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). METHODS: We carried out a prospective cohort study to evaluate the feasibility, diagnostic yield and safety of EUS-TTNB. Technical success was defined as visible specimen present after TTNB sampling. Clinical success was determined by the pathology results whenever the cyst wall lining was present, and a histologic diagnosis could be established. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients (mean age 62.0 ± 11 years; 14 (61%) females) were included. The median cyst diameter was 29.5 mm (IQR 21.3–56.8 mm, range 15–75 mm). The procedure was technically successful in 19 patients (95%). TTNB allowed a histologic diagnosis in 15 out of 19 cases (clinical success: 78.9%). Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology was performed in 19/20 patients but was nondiagnostic in 9 cases (45%). The combination of fluid cytology with TTNB resulted in an increased overall diagnostic yield (17/20 cases, 85%), providing additional information in 2 cases in which TTNB results were inconclusive. While cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen CEA >192 ng/mL was found in 5/20 cases, TTNB allowed the diagnosis of 12 mucinous lesions. Based on histological features and immunochemical mucin expression on TTNB samples, we were able to determine the predominant phenotype of IPMN in 8/10 cases. Surgical specimens were available in 9 cases with a diagnostic concordance rate of 66.7% (6/9 cases) when compared with TTNB specimens. Overall, in 7 cases, TTNB provided the diagnosis otherwise not suggested by cytology. Also, the histologic features of TTNB specimens changed the presumable diagnosis of the PCL in 5/20 cases and changed management in 8/20 patients (40%). Adverse events occurred in one patient who developed self-limited intracystic bleeding. CONCLUSION: EUS-TTNB was associated with high technical and clinical success and low adverse events rate. It was found superior to FNA cytology and cyst fluid CEA. The addition of TTNB to the current standard approach may provide an incremental benefit for PCLs diagnosis and risk stratification. Also, the possibility for IPMN subtyping can become an important feature for patient management.

A second endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration for cytology identifies high-risk pancreatic cysts overlooked by current guidelines.

Endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is recommended for diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). Its role in surveillance is unclear. Our goal was to determine if a second EUS-FNA changes diagnosis or management of PCLs. A retrospective analysis of an EUS database, searching for EUS-FNAs in PCLs from 2007 to 2017 was performed. Demographics, cyst characteristics, and FNA results were compared in patients under surveillance, performing a single or two consecutive EUS-FNAs. Of 203 PCLs referred for EUS-FNA, surveillance was decided in 128 (63%). Data of 105 (82%) patients with a single EUS-FNA were compared with 23 (18%) with two EUS-FNAs during surveillance. Patients were younger in this latter group (P = .055), whereas CEA levels were marginally higher (P = .078) and a mass/nodule were more frequent (P = .006). The mean time between EUS-FNAs was 38 months (4.7-118.8) for 18 patients maintaining surveillance vs 18 months (2.9-56.9) in the four referred for surgery (P = NS) after two EUS-FNAs (two NETs, one IPMN-HGD, and one MCN-LG). A high correlation in CEA level between consecutive EUS-FNAs (r2 = 0.945, P < .01) was present, with a change of category observed (cut-off level = 192 ng/mL) in two patients only. Of four patients with a second EUS-FNA with conclusive cytology, two had NETs confirmed on resection. Repeating EUS-FNA in surveillance of PCLs with clinical suspicion of malignancy increased neoplasm diagnoses, changing decision toward surgery in almost 20% of patients while excluding IPMNs with mucin nodules from unnecessary resections. A second EUS-FNA for cytology appears justified in some PCLs, particularly for diagnosing NETs.

Cost-effectiveness of consensus guideline based management of pancreatic cysts: The sensitivity and specificity required for guidelines to be cost-effective

BackgroundDetection of cystic lesions of the pancreas has outpaced our ability to stratify low-grade cystic lesions from those at greater risk for pancreatic cancer, raising a concern for overtreatment. MethodsWe developed a Markov decision model to determine the cost-effectiveness of guideline-based management for asymptomatic pancreatic cysts. Incremental costs per quality-adjusted life year gained and survival were calculated for current management guidelines. A sensitivity analysis estimated the effect on cost-effectiveness and mortality if overtreatment of low-grade cysts is avoided, and the sensitivity and specificity thresholds required of methods of cyst stratification to improve costs expended. Results“Surveillance” using current management guidelines had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $171,143/quality adjusted life year compared with no surveillance or operative treatment (“do nothing”). An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for surveillance decreases to $80,707/quality adjusted life year if the operative overtreatment of low-grade cysts was avoided. Assuming a societal willingness-to-pay of $100,000/quality adjusted life year, the diagnostic specificity for high-risk cysts must be >67% for surveillance to be preferred over surgery and “do nothing.” Changes in sensitivity alone cannot make surveillance cost-effective. Most importantly, survival in surveillance is worse than “do nothing” for 3 years after cyst diagnosis, although long-term survival is improved. The disadvantage is eliminated when overtreatment of low-grade cysts is avoided. ConclusionCurrent management of pancreatic cystic lesions is not cost-effective and may increase mortality owing to overtreatment of low-grade cysts. The specificity for risk stratification for high-risk cysts must be greater than 67% to make surveillance cost-effective.

High-Risk Characteristics Associated with Advanced Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: Results from a Retrospective Surgical Cohort.

The management of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) remains controversial. We performed a retrospective study to determine characteristics associated with advanced PCLs (A-PCLs) and whether these characteristics vary in different pathological types of PCLs. The additional diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was also evaluated. Patients who underwent surgical resection for an identified PCLs by imaging modalities were included. A logistic regression model was developed to identify significant characteristics for A-PCLs. EUS data was assessed separately. Three hundred and fifty-three patients were included, and 125 patients (35.4%) were A-PCLs. The presence of main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter ≥ 10mm (odds ratio [OR], 11.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-89.2; P = 0.018), mural nodules ≥ 5mm (OR, 11.67; 95% CI, 2.3-59.05; P = 0.003), solid components within cysts (OR, 30.87; 95% CI, 7.23-131.7; P < 0.0001) and high serum CA19-9 levels (OR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.001-1.011; P = 0.02) were independently associated with the presence of A-PCLs. The presence of septa was independently associated with the presence of non-A-PCLs (OR, 0.147; 95% CI, 0.04-0.6; P = 0.008). Males who had a history of tobacco abuse (P < 0.0001) and had a greatly dilated MPD (P < 0.0001) were more common in advanced intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMC) patients. Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPT) often occurred in young women (P < 0.0001), mostly asymptomatically (P < 0.0001) and with lower serum CA19-9 levels (P < 0.0001). In the 124 patients who underwent EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), five additional characteristics (4 mural nodules and 1 MPD involvement) were identified by EUS imaging and 17 patients were identified with abnormal cytological results (13 atypical cells and 4 suspicious for malignancy cells) by EUS-FNA. On the basis of a retrospective study with large sample size, the presence of MPD ≥ 10mm, mural nodules, solid components, and high serum CA19-9 levels were independently associated with the presence of A-PCLs. The high-risk characteristics may vary across different types of A-PCLs. EUS and EUS-FNA could provide additional diagnostic information for PCLs.

Molecular Diagnostics and Testing for Pancreatic Cysts.

In current clinical practice, the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are based on guidelines that combine clinical and imaging findings. These guidelines usefully identify a large category of low-risk PCLs that do not require treatment. However, they have limited accuracy for diagnosis of advanced neoplasia in worrisome and high-risk PCLs. Novel molecular markers that can accurately detect advanced neoplasia in PCLs can transform the care of patients with PCLs. We reviewed the recent medical literature on molecular diagnostics of PCLs and summarized molecular biomarkers assayed in cyst fluid, pancreatic juice, and blood. Several studies have been recently published describing promising early results in genetic, epigenetic, and protein biomarkers from cyst fluid to help in both histologic diagnosis and detection of advanced neoplasia. The majority of studies have been completed using opportunistically collected archival cyst fluid and few report validation in independent sample sets. Results of ongoing multicenter prospective validation studies are awaited and will help define the best combination of cyst fluid molecular markers. In multifocal PCLs communicating with the pancreatic ductal system, a pancreatic juice biomarker is likely to be less invasive and more informative. Novel biomarkers in pancreatic juice and blood are in early phases of study. The field of molecular diagnostic biomarkers for PCLs is rapidly evolving with several promising candidate markers being prospectively evaluated. In the near future, these novel molecular markers, combined with advances in imaging technology, will transform clinical decision-making in the management of PCLs and improve patient outcomes.

Validation of European evidence‐based guidelines and American College of Gastroenterology guidelines as predictors of advanced neoplasia in patients with suspected mucinous pancreatic cystic neoplasms

The European evidence-based guidelines (EEG) and American College of Gastroenterology Guidelines (ACGG) have been published to guide the management of pancreatic cystic lesions. We aim to evaluate the value of both guidelines in predicting advanced pancreatic cystic lesions (A-PCLs) with preoperatively imaging-suspected cystic mucinous pancreatic neoplasms (cMNs). One hundred ninety-eight patients who underwent resections from 2013 to 2019 for suspected cMNs were retrospectively reviewed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated and compared with measure diagnostic value. Sixty-two patients were diagnosed with A-PCLs pathologically. Cross-imaging modalities had comparable diagnostic accuracy to endoscopic ultrasound in type classification and A-PCLs prediction. Receiver operating characteristic curve comparison analyses showed that EEG absolute+MCN (EEGAM ) and EEG relative+MCN (EEGRM ) having at least one indications criteria were comparable to the ACGG (P=0.21 and P=0.45). For the criteria having at least two indications, ACGG was superior to EEGAM (P=0.001) but comparable to EEGRM (P=0.12). EEGAM ≥1 indication criteria was superior to ≥2 indications criteria (P=0.02). EEGRM ≥1 indication criteria had comparable diagnostic performance with ≥2 indications criteria (P=0.86). ACGG ≥2 indications criteria was superior to ≥1 indication criteria (P=0.02). On the basis of cross-imaging evaluations, both sets of guidelines were found to be helpful in identifying A-PCLs in suspected cMNs with comparable performance. EEGAM ≥1 indication criteria was superior to ≥2 indications criteria. ACGG ≥2 indications criteria was superior to ≥1 indication criteria.

Impact of EUS-guided microforceps biopsy sampling and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy on the diagnostic yield and clinical management of pancreatic cystic lesions

EUS-guided microforceps biopsy sampling (MFB) and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) are emerging diagnostic tools for pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). There is a paucity of data regarding their performance and impact. The aim of this study was to compare diagnostic outcomes and changes in clinical management resulting from MFB and nCLE use in PCLs. This was a single-center retrospective study of patients with PCLs who underwent combined EUS-guided FNA, MFB, and nCLE. Primary outcomes included diagnostic yield (specific PCL type) and change in clinical management for each modality compared with the current "composite standard" (CS) obtained by combining clinical, morphologic, cyst fluid cytology, and chemical analysis. Forty-four cysts were studied in 44 patients. Technical success was 100% for EUS-FNA, 88.6% for MFB, and 97.7% for nCLE. Of 44 procedures, there was 1 adverse event (2.3%, an infected pseudocyst). Diagnostic yield for each individual modality was 34.1% for CS, 75.0% for MFB (P< .05 vs CS), and 84.1% for nCLE (P< .05 vs CS). Diagnostic yield for combined tests was 79.5% for CS/MFB, 88.6% for CS/nCLE, and 93.2% for CS/MFB/nCLE (P= not significant). Compared with the CS, the use of MFB, nCLE, and their combination led to overall change in clinical management in 38.6%, 43.2%, and 52.3% of cases, respectively. MFB and nCLE led to an overall increase in discontinuation of surveillance (MFB, 34.1% [P< .05]; nCLE, 31.8% [P< .05]), led by a reduction in the indication for follow-up radiologic or endoscopic studies (MFB, 34.1% [P< .05]; nCLE, 38.6% [P< .05]). Based on MFB and nCLE, 2 of 28 (7.1%) and 3 of 28 (10.7%) patients who would have undergone further surveillance were referred for surgery. In the evaluation of PCLs, the use of combined EUS-guided FNA, MFB, and nCLE is safe. MFB and nCLE led to significant improvements in specific PCL diagnosis, which in turn has major impacts in clinical management.