ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Cysts

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.

Diagnostic accuracy of the AGA, IAP, and European guidelines for detecting advanced neoplasia in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm/neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Follow-up in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) aims to detect advanced neoplasia (high-grade dysplasia/cancer) in an early stage. The 2015 American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), 2017 International Association of Pancreatology (IAP), and the 2018 European Study Group on Cystic tumours of the Pancreas (European) guidelines differ in their recommendations on indications for surgery. However, it remains unclear which guideline is most accurate in predicting advanced neoplasia in IPMN.

METHODS

Patients who underwent surgery were extracted from a prospective database (January 2006-January 2021). In patients with IPMN, final pathology was compared with the indication for surgery according to the guidelines. ROC-curves were calculated to determine the diagnostic accuracy for each guideline.

RESULTS

Overall, 247 patients underwent surgery for cystic lesions. In 145 patients with IPMN, 52 had advanced neoplasia, of which the AGA guideline would have advised surgery in 14 (27%), the IAP and European guideline in 49 (94%) and 50 (96%). In 93 patients without advanced neoplasia, the AGA, IAP, and European guidelines would incorrectly have advised surgery in 8 (8.6%), 77 (83%) and 71 (76%).

CONCLUSION

The European and IAP guidelines are clearly superior in detecting advanced neoplasia in IPMN as compared to the AGA, albeit at the cost of a higher rate of unnecessary surgery. To harmonize care and to avoid confusion caused by conflicting statements, a global evidence-based guideline for PCN in collaboration with the various guidelines groups is required once the current guidelines require an update.

The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions (PCLs)

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are a common incidental finding on cross-sectional imaging. Given the high signal to noise and contrast resolution, multi-parametric capability and lack of ionizing radiation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the non-invasive method of choice to predict cyst type, risk stratify the presence of neoplasia, and monitor changes during surveillance. In many patients with PCLs, the combination of MRI and the patient's history and demographics will suffice to stratify lesions and guide treatment decisions. In other patients, especially those with worrisome or high-risk features, a multimodal diagnostic approach that includes endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fluid analysis, digital pathomics, and/or molecular analysis is often necessary to decide on management options. The application of radiomics and artificial intelligence in MRI may improve the ability to non-invasively stratify PCLs and better guide treatment decisions. This review will summarize the evidence on the evolution of MRI for PCLs, the prevalence of PCLs using MRI, and the MRI features to diagnose specific PCL types and early malignancy. We will also describe topics such as the utility of gadolinium and secretin in MRIs of PCLs, the limitations of MRI for PCLs, and future directions.

A Review on Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation (EUS-RFA) of Pancreatic Lesions

The morbidity associated with pancreatectomies limits surgical options for high-risk patients with pancreatic neoplasms that warrant resection. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) offers a minimally invasive and potentially definitive means to treat pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and precancerous pancreatic cystic lesions. In addition, EUS-RFA may play a role in the treatment and palliation of non-surgical cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The efficacy of RFA appears to be further enhanced by systemic immunomodulatory effects. Here, we review current studies on the developing role of EUS-RFA in these pancreatic pathologies.

Surgical treatment for pancreatic cystic lesions-implications from the multi-center and prospective German StuDoQ|Pancreas registry

PURPOSE

The detection of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL) causes uncertainty for physicians and patients, and international guidelines are based on low evidence. The extent and perioperative risk of resections of PCL in Germany needs comparison with these guidelines to highlight controversies and derive recommendations.

METHODS

Clinical data of 1137 patients who underwent surgery for PCL between 2014 and 2019 were retrieved from the German StuDoQ|Pancreas registry. Relevant features for preoperative evaluation and predictive factors for adverse outcomes were statistically identified.

RESULTS

Patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) represented the largest PCL subgroup (N = 689; 60.6%) while other entities (mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN), serous cystic neoplasms (SCN), neuroendocrine tumors, pseudocysts) were less frequently resected. Symptoms of pancreatitis were associated with IPMN (OR, 1.8; P = 0.012) and pseudocysts (OR, 4.78; P < 0.001), but likewise lowered the likelihood of MCN (OR, 0.49; P = 0.046) and SCN (OR, 0.15, P = 0.002). A total of 639 (57.2%) patients received endoscopic ultrasound before resection, as recommended by guidelines. Malignancy was histologically confirmed in 137 patients (12.0%), while jaundice (OR, 5.1; P < 0.001) and weight loss (OR, 2.0; P = 0.002) were independent predictors. Most resections were performed by open surgery (N = 847, 74.5%), while distal lesions were in majority treated using minimally invasive approaches (P < 0.001). Severe morbidity was 28.4% (N = 323) and 30d mortality was 2.6% (N = 29). Increased age (P = 0.004), higher BMI (P = 0.002), liver cirrhosis (P < 0.001), and esophageal varices (P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for 30d mortality.

CONCLUSION

With respect to unclear findings frequently present in PCL, diagnostic means recommended in guidelines should always be considered in the preoperative phase. The therapy of PCL should be decided upon in the light of patient-specific factors, and the surgical strategy needs to be adapted accordingly.

Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms: Diagnosis and Management

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, largely related to the difficulties with early detection, as it typically presents in later stages. Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) are commonly diagnosed as incidental findings on routine imaging. PCN is becoming more frequently detected with the increasing ease and frequency of obtaining cross-sectional images. Certain subtypes of pancreatic cysts have the potential to progress to malignancy, and therefore, clinicians are tasked with creating a patient-centered management plan. The decision of whether to undergo surgical resection or interval surveillance can be challenging given the criteria, including PCN size, pancreatic duct dilation, presence of a mural nodule, and clinical symptoms that play a potential role in risk stratification. Furthermore, the guidelines available from the major gastrointestinal societies all differ in their management recommendations. In this review, we detail an overview of the different types of PCNs and compare major guidelines for both diagnosis and management. We include emerging evidence for next-generation sequencing as well as confocal needle endomicroscopy to aid in the diagnosis and determination of malignancy potential and diagnosis.

Clinical and Molecular Attributes and Evaluation of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasm

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are all considered "Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs)" and show a varying risk of developing into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). These lesions display different molecular characteristics, mutations, and clinical manifestations. A lack of detailed understanding of PCN subtype characteristics and their molecular mechanisms limits the development of efficient diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for these lesions. Proper in vivo mouse models that mimic human PCNs are also needed to study the molecular mechanisms and for therapeutic testing. A comprehensive understanding of the current status of PCN biology, mechanisms, current diagnostic methods, and therapies will help in the early detection and proper management of patients with these lesions and PDAC. This review aims to describe all these aspects of PCNs, specifically IPMNs, by describing the future perspectives.

Prospective, Multi-Institutional, Real-Time Next-Generation Sequencing of Pancreatic Cyst Fluid Reveals Diverse Genomic Alterations That Improve the Clinical Management of Pancreatic Cysts

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of pancreatic cyst fluid is a useful adjunct in the assessment of patients with pancreatic cyst. However, previous studies have been retrospective or single institutional experiences. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate NGS on a multi-institutional cohort of patients with pancreatic cyst in real time.

METHODS

The performance of a 22-gene NGS panel (PancreaSeq) was first retrospectively confirmed and then within a 2-year timeframe, PancreaSeq testing was prospectively used to evaluate endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration pancreatic cyst fluid from 31 institutions. PancreaSeq results were correlated with endoscopic ultrasound findings, ancillary studies, current pancreatic cyst guidelines, follow-up, and expanded testing (Oncomine) of postoperative specimens.

RESULTS

Among 1933 PCs prospectively tested, 1887 (98%) specimens from 1832 patients were satisfactory for PancreaSeq testing. Follow-up was available for 1216 (66%) patients (median, 23 months). Based on 251 (21%) patients with surgical pathology, mitogen-activated protein kinase/GNAS mutations had 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity for a mucinous cyst (positive predictive value [PPV], 100%; negative predictive value [NPV], 77%). On exclusion of low-level variants, the combination of mitogen-activated protein kinase/GNAS and TP53/SMAD4/CTNNB1/mammalian target of rapamycin alterations had 88% sensitivity and 98% specificity for advanced neoplasia (PPV, 97%; NPV, 93%). Inclusion of cytopathologic evaluation to PancreaSeq testing improved the sensitivity to 93% and maintained a high specificity of 95% (PPV, 92%; NPV, 95%). In comparison, other modalities and current pancreatic cyst guidelines, such as the American Gastroenterology Association and International Association of Pancreatology/Fukuoka guidelines, show inferior diagnostic performance. The sensitivities and specificities of VHL and MEN1/loss of heterozygosity alterations were 71% and 100% for serous cystadenomas (PPV, 100%; NPV, 98%), and 68% and 98% for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PPV, 85%; NPV, 95%), respectively. On follow-up, serous cystadenomas with TP53/TERT mutations exhibited interval growth, whereas pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with loss of heterozygosity of ≥3 genes tended to have distant metastasis. None of the 965 patients who did not undergo surgery developed malignancy. Postoperative Oncomine testing identified mucinous cysts with BRAF fusions and ERBB2 amplification, and advanced neoplasia with CDKN2A alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

PancreaSeq was not only sensitive and specific for various pancreatic cyst types and advanced neoplasia arising from mucinous cysts, but also reveals the diversity of genomic alterations seen in pancreatic cysts and their clinical significance.

Role of Endoscopy in Management of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Upper endoscopy has an established role in diagnosing and staging upper GI cancers, screening for pre-malignant lesions, and providing palliation in cases of advanced malignancy. New advances in endoscopic techniques and technology have improved diagnostic accuracy and increased the therapeutic potential of upper endoscopy. We aim to describe the different types of endoscopic technology used in cancer diagnosis, summarize the current guidelines for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of malignant and pre-malignant lesions, and explore new potential roles for endoscopy in cancer therapy.

The Evaluation of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Predicting Progression of Acute Pancreatitis to Pancreatic Necrosis: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Review

Acute pancreatitis is the acute inflammation of the pancreas; 30% of cases may progress to pancreatic necrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) in detecting pancreatic necrosis in adults with confirmed acute pancreatitis within 14 days of symptom onset and without organ failure. A systematic search was conducted across the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science until May 30, 2022, with the following keywords: acute disease, biomarkers, C-reactive protein, calcitonin, differential, diagnosis, lactate dehydrogenase, pancreatitis, acute necrotizing, necrosis, sensitivity, specificity. Statistical analysis was conducted in RevMan 5.4.1 (Cochrane). Five studies pooling 645 participants were included of which 59.8% were males, with a mean age of 49 years. CRP was the best cutoff at 279 mg/L (χ2 = 47.43, p < 0.001), followed by 200 mg/L (χ2 = 36.54, p < 0.001). LDH was cut off at 290 units/L (χ2 = 51.6, p < 0.001), whereas PCT did not display the most reliable results at 0.05 ng/mL. Inflammatory biomarkers are scalable diagnostic tools that may confer clinical value by decreasing the mortality of acute pancreatitis sequelae.

Microbiota in the Natural History of Pancreatic Cancer: From Predisposition to Therapy

Early microbiome insights came from gut microbes and their role among intestinal and extraintestinal disease. The latest evidence suggests that the microbiota is a true organ, capable of several interactions throughout the digestive system, attracting specific interest in the biliopancreatic district. Despite advances in diagnostics over the last few decades and improvements in the management of this disease, pancreatic cancer is still a common cause of cancer death. Microbiota can influence the development of precancerous disease predisposing to pancreatic cancer (PC). At the same time, neoplastic tissue shows specific characteristics in terms of diversity and phenotype, determining the short- and long-term prognosis. Considering the above information, a role for microbiota has also been hypothesized in the different phases of the PC approach, providing future revolutionary therapeutic insights. Microbiota-modulating therapies could open new issues in the therapeutic landscape. The aim of this narrative review is to assess the most updated evidence on microbiome in all the steps regarding pancreatic adenocarcinoma, from early development to response to antineoplastic therapy and long-term prognosis.

Early phase trial of intracystic injection of large surface area microparticle paclitaxel for treatment of mucinous pancreatic cysts

Background and study aims  Mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) have the potential for malignant transformation, for which the only accepted curative modality is surgery. A novel intracystic therapy with large surface area microparticle paclitaxel (LSAM-PTX) may treat PCLs without local or systemic toxicities. Safety and preliminary efficacy of LSAM-PTX for the treatment of PCLs administered by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle injection (EUS-FNI) was evaluated. Patients and methods  Ten subjects with confirmed PCLs (size > 1.5 cm) received intracystic LSAM-PTX via EUS-FNI at volumes equal to those aspirated from the cyst in sequential cohorts at 6, 10, and 15 mg/mL in a standard "3 + 3" dose-escalation protocol. The highest dose with acceptable safety and tolerability was taken into the confirmatory phase where nine additional subjects received two injections of LSAM-PTX 12 weeks apart. Subjects were followed for 6 months after initial LSAM-PTX treatment for endpoints including: adverse events (AEs), tolerability, pharmacokinetic analysis of systemic paclitaxel drug levels, and change in cyst volume. Results  Nineteen subjects completed the study. No dose-limiting toxicities, treatment-related serious AEs, or clinically significant laboratory changes were reported. Systemic paclitaxel concentrations did not exceed 3.5 ng/mL at any timepoint measured and fell below 1 ng/mL by Week 2, supporting the lack of systemic toxicity. By Week 24 a cyst volume reduction (10-78 %) was seen in 70.6 % of subjects. Conclusions  Intracystic injection of LSAM-PTX into mucinous PCLs resulted in no significant AEs, a lack of systemic absorption, and resulted in reduction of cyst volume over a 6 month period.

Classification of pancreatic cystic neoplasms using radiomic feature analysis is equivalent to an experienced academic radiologist: a step toward computer-augmented diagnostics for radiologists

PURPOSE

A wide array of benign and malignant lesions of the pancreas can be cystic and these cystic lesions can have overlapping imaging appearances. The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of a radiomics-based pancreatic cyst classifier to an experienced academic radiologist.

METHODS

In this IRB-approved retrospective single-institution study, patients with surgically resected pancreatic cysts who underwent preoperative abdominal CT from 2003 to 2016 were identified. Pancreatic cyst(s) and background pancreas were manually segmented, and 488 radiomics features were extracted. Random forest classification based on radiomics features, age, and gender was evaluated with fourfold cross-validation. An academic radiologist blinded to the final pathologic diagnosis reviewed each case and provided the most likely diagnosis.

RESULTS

214 patients were included (64 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 33 mucinous cystic neoplasms, 60 serous cystadenomas, 24 solid pseudopapillary neoplasms, and 33 cystic neuroendocrine tumors). The radiomics-based machine learning approach showed AUC of 0.940 in pancreatic cyst classification, compared with AUC of 0.895 for the radiologist.

CONCLUSION

Radiomics-based machine learning achieved equivalent performance as an experienced academic radiologist in the classification of pancreatic cysts. The high diagnostic accuracy can potentially maximize the efficiency of healthcare utilization by maximizing detection of high-risk lesions.

Classification prediction of pancreatic cystic neoplasms based on radiomics deep learning models

BACKGROUND

Preoperative prediction of pancreatic cystic neoplasm (PCN) differentiation has significant value for the implementation of personalized diagnosis and treatment plans. This study aimed to build radiomics deep learning (DL) models using computed tomography (CT) data for the preoperative differential diagnosis of common cystic tumors of the pancreas.

METHODS

Clinical and CT data of 193 patients with PCN were collected for this study. Among these patients, 99 were pathologically diagnosed with pancreatic serous cystadenoma (SCA), 55 were diagnosed with mucinous cystadenoma (MCA) and 39 were diagnosed with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). The regions of interest (ROIs) were obtained based on manual image segmentation of CT slices. The radiomics and radiomics-DL models were constructed using support vector machines (SVMs). Moreover, based on the fusion of clinical and radiological features, the best combined feature set was obtained according to the Akaike information criterion (AIC) analysis. Then the fused model was constructed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

For the SCA differential diagnosis, the fused model performed the best and obtained an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.916. It had a best feature set including position, polycystic features (≥6), cystic wall calcification, pancreatic duct dilatation and radiomics-DL score. For the MCA and IPMN differential diagnosis, the fused model with AUC of 0.973 had a best feature set including age, communication with the pancreatic duct and radiomics score.

CONCLUSIONS

The radiomics, radiomics-DL and fused models based on CT images have a favorable differential diagnostic performance for SCA, MCA and IPMN. These findings may be beneficial for the exploration of individualized management strategies.

Pancreatic cyst fluid glucose: a rapid on-site diagnostic test for mucinous cysts

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cystic fluid (PCF) analysis is frequently used for cyst diagnosis with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) being the most accepted biomarker. Low glucose levels in PCF were previously suggested as a marker for mucinous cysts. A bed-side glucometer is a point-of care, immediate, simple, and cheap method which requires a small volume of PCF.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to identify the optimal glucose cut-off level for identifying mucinous cysts, evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of glucose compared to CEA, and validate glucometry against reference laboratory biochemical analysis.

DESIGN

A single-center prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Consecutive patients aged 18 and older, who underwent pancreatic cyst evaluation, at the Tel Aviv Medical Center between 2016 and 2021 were analyzed. Cyst type was defined based on clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. Glucose was measured using laboratory biochemical analysis and two glucometers. Receiver operating characteristic analysis derived sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated and McNemar test was used to compare between methods.

RESULTS

One hundred and one PCF samples were evaluated. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve for identifying mucinous cysts using glucometer, glucose laboratory, and their combination were 0.88 (p < 0.001), 0.92 (p < 0.001), and 0.93 (p < 0.001), respectively. A glucose level of 87 mg/dL was identified as the optimal laboratory glucose threshold value to detect mucinous cyst with a sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 83.3%, and accuracy of 89.3, higher in comparison to cyst fluid CEA. Furthermore, PCF glucose levels had the strongest association with mucinous cysts.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that PCF glucose level is more accurate than CEA for the diagnosis of mucinous cysts. Glucometry glucose level assessment demonstrated an excellent correlation with laboratory glucose measurements and may become a useful diagnostic test.

Case report: A case report and literature review of extrapancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm

Background

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare tumor with low malignant potential, which typically occurs in the pancreas. Extrapancreatic SPN is also extremely rare worldwide.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 70-year-old woman hospitalized with abdominal pain and bloating. The patient did not have any underlying diseases, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, or hypertension. More than 30 years ago, the patient underwent surgery for “ectopic pregnancy”. The patient had no family history of hereditary disease, nor did any immediate family members have a history of cancer. Laboratory tests showed that her hemoglobin and albumin levels were low and she had a high level of cancer antigen 125 (CA125). Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a large tumor in the abdomen and pelvis. The patient subsequently underwent surgery, and it was found that the tumor was attached to the terminal ileum. Pathological findings suggested that the tumor was an extrapancreatic SPN, with an ectopic pancreas found in the tumor tissue. The patient did not receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery. After 13 months of follow-up, the patient was admitted again with abdominal pain. CT showed tumor recurrence with extensive systemic metastases. The patient and her family refused reoperation and biopsy, and the patient was discharged after the abdominal pain and anemia resolved.

Conclusion

We report a rare case of extrapancreatic SPN of ileal origin, which could be the first report worldwide. It had aggressive biological features, with recurrence and metastasis 13 months after surgery. For extrapancreatic SPN, the risk of recurrence should be assessed, and for tumors suspected of malignant behavior, a longer follow-up after discharge may be needed. Although SPN generally has a good prognosis after surgery, there is no consensus on whether postoperative chemotherapy and other treatments are needed for patients with high recurrence risk.

Serial EUS-Guided FNA for the Surveillance of Pancreatic Cysts: A Study of Long-Term Performance of Tumor Markers

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The natural history of KRAS mutations in mucinous pancreatic cysts (MPCs) over time remains to be fully understood. The aim of this study was to examine the performance of DNA markers and assess changes of KRAS mutations over time.

METHODS

Patients who underwent EUS-FNA of pancreatic cysts with at least two separate molecular analysis results were included in the study. We assessed the baseline patient and cyst characteristics, and DNA fluid analysis. The presence of either a KRAS mutation, or a CEA > 192 ng/ml was used as the diagnostic standard for mucinous cysts when surgical pathology was not available.

RESULTS

A total of 933 pancreatic cyst fluid samples were collected, including 117 with ≥ 2 FNAs. Examinations were performed over a median of 30 months (range 1-115 months). Forty-three (36%) had a mutant KRAS on the index analysis out of which 26 had a change in their KRAS status to the wild-type. Eighty-one (64%) had a wild-type KRAS on the index analysis out of which 18 had change in their KRAS status to mutant type. There was no significant difference in the index cyst characteristics, presence of symptoms, or main duct involvement based on KRAS status change. Increasing age was associated with a changing KRAS mutation status (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

KRAS mutations gain and loss in pancreatic cyst fluid appears to occur frequently during long-term surveillance of MPCs. Age appears to be the only predictor for KRAS change over time.

Is antibiotic prophylaxis necessary after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic cysts?

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Current society guidelines recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for 3 to 5 days after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). The overall quality of the evidence supporting this recommendation is low. In this study, we aimed to assess cyst infection and adverse event rates after EUS-FNA of PCLs among patients treated with or without postprocedural prophylactic antibiotics.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent EUS-FNA of PCLs between 2015 and 2019 at two large-volume academic medical centers with different practice patterns of postprocedural antibiotic prophylaxis. Data on patient demographics, cyst characteristics, fine-needle aspiration technique, periprocedural and postprocedural antibiotic prophylaxis, and adverse events were retrospectively extracted.

RESULTS

A total of 470 EUS-FNA procedures were performed by experienced endosonographers for the evaluation of PCLs in 448 patients, 58.7% of whom were women. The mean age was 66.3±12.8 years. The mean cyst size was 25.7±16.9 mm. Postprocedural antibiotics were administered in 274 cases (POSTAB+ group, 58.3%) but not in 196 cases (POSTAB- group, 41.7%). None of the patients in either group developed systemic or localized infection within the 30-day follow-up period. Procedure-related adverse events included mild abdominal pain (8 patients), intra-abdominal hematoma (1 patient), mild pancreatitis (1 patient), and perforation (1 patient). One additional case of pancreatitis was recorded; however, the patient also underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of infection after EUS-FNA of PCLs is negligible. Routine use of postprocedural antibiotics does not add a significant benefit.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of premalignant pancreatic-cystic neoplasms and neuroendocrine tumors: prospective study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) is a developing therapeutic approach for premalignant pancreatic-cystic neoplasms (PCNs) and small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). The safety and efficacy of pancreatic EUS-RFA were previously reported in small series. Herein we report our initial experience with RFA of PCNs and small PNETs.

METHODS

This is a prospective single-center study including 12 patients with a median follow-up of 7 months, with either PCN or PNET &amp;lt;2 cm. Eligible PCNs were either intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) with worrisome features or mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) that were not eligible or refused surgery. Ablation was performed using a 19-gauge dedicated needle.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were treated, five had PCNs (four IPMNs, one MCN; median size of 36 mm, range 12-60) and seven had PNETs (median size 8.9 mm, range 6-18). Among patients with PCNs, the complete radiologic response was achieved in 3/5 (60%), partial response in 1/5 (20%) and failure in 1/5 (20%). Among six patients with nonfunctioning PNETs, the complete radiologic response was achieved in 4/6 (66.7%), partial radiologic response in 0/6 (0%) and failure in 2/6 (33.3%). Following a median follow-up of 7 months. One patient with insulinoma showed complete resolution of hypoglycemia-related symptoms. Three postprocedural adverse events occurred, including one case (1/12, 8.3%) of mild acute pancreatitis and two cases (2/12, 16.7%) of abdominal pain.

CONCLUSION

EUS-guided RFA for premalignant PCNs and PNETs is feasible and well-tolerated. Efficacy would be further evaluated with continued follow-up of patients.

Preoperative prediction of invasive behavior of pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm by MRI-based multiparametric radiomics models

OBJECTIVE

A log-combined model was developed to predict the invasive behavior of pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (pSPN) based on clinical and radiomic features extracted from multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 111 patients with pathologically confirmed pSPN who underwent preoperative plain and contrast-enhanced MRI were included, and divided into an invasive group (n = 34) and non-invasive group (n = 77). Clinical features and laboratory data related to pSPN invasive behavior were analyzed. Regions of interest were delineated based on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and contrast-enhanced T1WI (CE-T1WI) to extract radiomic features. Correlation analysis was performed for these features, followed by L1_based feature selection (C = 0.15). A logistic regression algorithm was used to construct models based on each of the four sequences and a log-combined model was used to integrate the sequences. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the model performance, and the Brier score was used to assess the overall accuracy of the model predictions.

RESULTS

The area under the ROC curve was 0.68, 0.73, 0.71, and 0.49 for Log-T1WI, Log-T2WI, Log-DWI, and Log-CE models, respectively, and 0.81 for the log-combined model. The accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and specificity of the log-combined model were 0.77, 0.88, 0.75, and 0.78, respectively. The best performance was obtained with the log-combined model with a Brier score of 0.18. Tumor location was identified as a significant clinical feature in comparison between the two groups (p < 0.05), and invasive pSPN was more frequent in the tail of the pancreas.

CONCLUSION

The log-combined model based on multiparametric MRI and clinical features can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for preoperative prediction of pSPN invasive behavior and to facilitate the development of individualized treatment strategies and monitoring management plans.

Molecular Analysis of Pancreatic Cyst Fluid for the Management of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human cancers. Early detection and diagnosis of precursor lesions for pancreatic malignancy is essential to improve the morbidity and mortality associated with this diagnosis. Of the cystic precursor lesions, branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is the most frequently identified lesion and has a wide range of malignant potential. Currently, Carcinogenic embryonic antigen (CEA) levels in the cyst fluid and cytology are the two most often utilized tools to diagnose these lesions; however, their diagnostic and risk stratification capabilities are somewhat limited. Within the last decade, the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration has opened the door for molecular analysis of cystic fluid as an option to enhance both the diagnosis and risk stratification of these lesions. The first step is to differentiate branch duct IPMNs from other lesions. KRAS and GNAS alterations have been shown to be accurate markers for this purpose. Following cyst type identification, mutational analysis, telomere fusion, microRNAs, long non-coding RNA, and DNA methylation have been identified as potential targets for stratifying malignant potential using the cystic fluid. In this review, we will examine the various targets of cyst fluid molecular analysis and their utility in the diagnosis and risk stratification of branch duct IPMNs.

Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: Review of the Current State of Diagnosis and Surveillance

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are both common and often incidental. These encompass a range of pathologies with varying degrees of concern for malignancy. Although establishing a diagnosis is helpful for determining malignant potential, many PCLs are either too small to characterize or demonstrate nonspecific morphologic features. The most salient modalities involved in diagnosis and surveillance are magnetic resonance imaging, multidetector computerized tomography, and endoscopic ultrasound. Fine needle aspiration has a role in conjunction with molecular markers as a diagnostic tool, particularly for identifying malignant lesions. Although several major consensus guidelines exist internationally, there remains uncertainty in establishing the strength of the association between all PCLs and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and in showing a benefit from extended periods of imaging surveillance. No consensus exists between the major guidelines, particularly regarding surveillance duration, frequency, or endpoints. This review paper discusses PCL subtypes, diagnosis, and compares the major consensus guidelines with considerations for local adaptability along with questions regarding current and future priorities for research.

Deep learning for real-time auxiliary diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in endoscopic ultrasonography

In recent year, many deep learning have been playing an important role in the detection of cancers. This study aimed to real-timely differentiate a pancreatic cancer (PC) or a non-pancreatic cancer (NPC) lesion via endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) image. A total of 1213 EUS images from 157 patients (99 male, 58 female) with pancreatic disease were used for training, validation and test groups. Before model training, regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn to mark the PC and NPC lesions using Labelimage software. Yolov5m was used as the algorithm model to automatically distinguish the presence of pancreatic lesion. After training the model based on EUS images using YOLOv5, the parameters achieved convergence within 300 rounds (GIoU Loss: 0.01532, Objectness Loss: 0.01247, precision: 0.713 and recall: 0.825). For the validation group, the mAP0.5 was 0.831, and mAP@.5:.95 was 0.512. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed this model seemed to have a trend of more AUC of 0.85 (0.665 to 0.956) than the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.838 (0.65 to 0.949) generated by physicians using EUS detection without puncture, although pairwise comparison of ROC curves showed that the AUC between the two groups was not significant (z= 0.15, p = 0.8804). This study suggested that the YOLOv5m would generate attractive results and allow for the real-time decision support for distinction of a PC or a NPC lesion.

Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasm of the Pancreas in the Paediatric Population: A Report of Two Cases

A rare pathology, the solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasm (SPEN) of the pancreas accounts for approximately 1% of pancreatic neoplasms. Initially called ‘Frantz’s tumour’, it has now been renamed to SPEN by the World Health Organization (WHO). This tumour has a predilection for females and a good prognosis with surgical excision being the treatment of choice.

Palpable abdominal masses in children are of significant clinical importance. Identifying cystic lesions in the pancreas from CT or MRI scans always warrant further investigations. Primary pancreatic neoplasms account for 0.1% of pancreatic tumours in the paediatric population; an extremely rare circumstance constituting a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to surgeons. This article comprises two paediatric cases of SPEN in 14- and 11-year-old females, respectively, and a literature review on current management.

Comparison of Preoperative Imaging Modalities for the Assessment of Malignant Potential of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: A Network Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The aims of this study are to compare the performance of various preoperative imaging modalities for assessing the malignant potential of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) through a network meta-analysis (NMA) and to clarify the role of 18 F-FDG PET in the management of patients with PCL.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for the studies evaluating the performance of preoperative imaging modalities for identifying malignant PCLs. The NMA was performed for 4 representative categories of various imaging modalities in terms of diagnostic performance for differentiating malignant from benign PCL and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms only as a subgroup analysis. To calculate the probability of each imaging modality being the most effective diagnostic method, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve values were obtained.

RESULTS

A total of 1018 patients from 17 direct comparison studies using 2 or more preoperative imaging modalities were included for differentiating malignant from benign PCL. The positive predictive value (PPV) and accuracy of 18 F-FDG PET were significantly higher than that of CT (PPV: odds ratio [OR], 2.66; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.21-6.17; accuracy: OR, 2.63; 95% CrI, 1.41-5.38) or MRI (PPV: OR, 2.50; 95% CrI, 1.09-6.26; accuracy: OR, 2.50; 95% CrI, 1.28-5.47) in all PCLs, as well as in the subgroup analysis for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm only. 18 F-FDG PET showed the highest surface under the cumulative ranking curve values in all diagnostic performance areas of sensitivity, specificity, PPV, negative predictive value, and accuracy, followed by MRI or CT.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this NMA suggest that 18 F-FDG PET is the best preoperative imaging modality for differentiating malignant from benign PCLs and that it can be used for the preoperative evaluation of PCLs.

New-Onset Diabetes Is a Potential Marker for the Malignant Transformation of Pancreatic Cysts: A Real-World Population Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

New-onset diabetes mellitus has been shown to be associated with pancreatic cancer (PC) in the general population. Our objective was to leverage real-world data to assess the association of new-onset diabetes (NODM) with malignant transformation in a large longitudinal cohort of pancreatic cyst patients.

METHODS

A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted using IBM's MarketScan claims databases from 2009 to 2017. From 200 million database subjects, we selected patients with newly diagnosed cysts without prior pancreatic pathology.

RESULTS

Of the 137,970 patients with a pancreatic cyst, 14,279 had a new diagnosis. Median follow-up was 41.6 months. Patients with NODM progressed to PC at nearly 3 times the rate of patients without a diabetes history (hazard ratio, 2.80; 95% confidence interval, 2.05-3.83) and at a significantly higher rate than patients with preexisting diabetes (hazard ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-2.21). The mean interval between NODM and cancer diagnosis was 7.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Cyst patients who developed NODM progressed to PC at 3 times the rate of nondiabetics and at a greater rate than preexisting diabetics. The diagnosis of NODM preceded cancer detection by several months. These results support the inclusion of diabetes mellitus screening in cyst surveillance algorithms.

Lower Interobserver Reliability for Nondimensional Intracystic Features Among Abdominal Radiologists for Characterizing Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVES

Current guidelines recommend magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for risk stratification of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). We assessed the interobserver agreement among radiologists in evaluating and risk stratifying IPMNs.

METHODS

This single-center study evaluated 30 patients with IPMNs who had undergone MRI/MRCP, endoscopic ultrasound, and/or surgical resection. Six abdominal radiologists evaluated the MRI/MRCPs to document multiple parameters. The analysis applied Landis and Koch κ interpretation for categorical variables and intraclass correlation coefficient (r) for continuous variables.

RESULTS

Radiologists demonstrated almost perfect agreement for location (κ = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.87), size (r = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98), and main pancreatic duct diameter (r = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99). Substantial agreement was observed for communication with the main pancreatic duct (κ = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57-0.75) and classification of IPMN subtype (κ = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.86). Presence of intracystic nodules (κ = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.21-0.42) and wall thickening (κ = 0.09; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.18) reached only fair and slight agreement, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although MRI/MRCP is excellent in the evaluation of spatial aspects, there is lower reliability for nondimensional characteristics of IPMNs. These data support guideline-recommended complementary evaluation of IPMNs with MRI/MRCP and endoscopic ultrasound.

The Natural History of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The management of incidentally discovered pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) with surveillance or resection often requires shared decision-making. Patients with cirrhosis are more likely to have PCLs discovered due to increased imaging, and those undergoing liver transplantations (LTs) may be at increased risk of carcinogenesis due to immunosuppressive medications. Our study aimed to characterize the outcomes and risk of malignant progression of PCLs in post-LT patients.

METHODS

Multiple databases were searched for studies looking at PCLs in post-LT patients from inception until February 2022. Primary outcomes were the incidence of PCLs in LT recipients and progression to malignancy. Secondary outcomes included development of worrisome features, outcomes of surgical resection for progression, and change in size.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies with 17,862 patients with 1411 PCLs were included. The pooled proportion of new PCL development in post-LT patients was 68% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42-86; I2 = 94%) over the follow-up of 3.7 (standard deviation, 1.5) years. The pooled progression of malignancy and worrisome features was 1% (95% CI, 0-2; I2 = 0%) and 4% (95% CI, 1-11; I2 = 89%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with nontransplant patients, incidental PCLs do not carry a higher risk of malignancy.

Giant Pseudocyst of the Pancreas: A Case Report

Pancreatic cysts are usually asymptomatic over 70% of the time. They can be benign or malignant. Enhanced imaging modalities and increased usage of routine imaging have increased the identification of pancreatic cysts. If symptomatic, abdominal pain or back pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, steatorrhea or palpable mass are usually the presenting complaints. Pancreatic cysts are typically assessed by cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this article, we present a case of a 33-year-old female with a recurrent large pancreatic pseudocyst, initially measured 15.8 cm x 14 cm x 14 cm, who was subsequently admitted to our unit and managed successfully. After undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy, exploratory laparotomy, and pancreatic cystogastrostomy, the pseudocyst shrunk to 8 cm x 6 cm over 13 weeks. It is rare to come across a pseudocyst of such large dimensions. Despite its large size, the patient presented with vague abdominal pain as the only chief complaint. The unusual presentation of symptoms and the enormous size of the pseudocyst make this a unique case. Managing giant pancreatic pseudocysts can be complex, as seen in this scenario by the multiple approaches attempted to treat the pseudocyst.

Stratification Based on Risk Factors at Diagnosis Could Predict Progression in Patients with Pancreatic Cysts

BACKGROUND

Predicting the risk of malignant transformation in pancreatic cyst patients is challenging.

AIM

We retrospectively investigated the risk factors for malignant transformation in pancreatic cyst patients.

METHODS

Patients with pancreatic cysts diagnosed using imaging tests were followed from November 2008 to December 2021. A significant change was defined as the additional development of high-risk stigmata (HRS), worrisome features (WFs), or pancreatic cancer during monitoring.

RESULTS

In total, 479 patients were analyzed, with a median observation period of 50 months. Forty-four patients (9.2%) showed significant changes, and eight (1.7%) developed pancreatic cancer. The univariate analysis showed that the cyst diameter at diagnosis (≥ 14 mm), main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter at diagnosis (≥ 3 mm), presence of multilocular cysts, and an inconsistent MPD caliber were significant predictive factors for a significant change. One point was assigned for each significant factor. We grouped the patients into three groups: the low-risk group (total score 0), medium-risk group (score 1-2), and high-risk group (score 3-4). The high-risk group had a higher risk of a significant change than the medium- and low-risk groups (age-adjusted HRs for the medium-risk and high-risk groups were 3.0 and 5.2 compared with the low-risk group).

CONCLUSION

Stratification based on risk factors may help predict the development of significant changes in pancreatic cyst patients.

Clinical Utility of the Contrast-Enhanced Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cyst

Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) cytology from an intracystic fluid is useful in the differentiation of pancreatic cysts, with low sensitivity, which increases when the solid component is targeted. The clinical utility of contrast-enhanced guided EUS-FNA (CH-EUS-FNA) in the solid component is not known. We aimed to assess the diagnostic value of CH-EUS-FNA in enhanced mural nodules and discrimination between different cysts using contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (CH-EUS). The prospective study recruited patients with pancreatic cysts with an unclear diagnosis. The CH-EUS was followed by CH-EUS-FNA. The final diagnosis was based on surgery or the correlation between clinical history, cross-sectional imaging, echoendoscopic morphology, cystic fluid analysis, and follow-up. Fifty-eight patients with pancreatic cysts were evaluated. The mucinous cysts had wall arterial enhancement more often than non- mucinous cysts (p < 0.0001), with 90.2% sensitivity and 70.6% specificity. The CH-EUS-FNA from cystic fluid and mural nodules identified mucinous cysts and malignancy with 82.4% and 84.2% sensitivity and 92% and 100% specificity. Twenty-one cysts had solid components, but only 13 were enhanced mural nodules on EUS assessment with conclusive cytology in all cases and malignancy in 76.9%. Contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound should be completed in all PCN with solid components in order to avoid unnecessary EUS-FNA and to guide FNA for the identification of malignant cysts.

Impact of COVID-19 on the endoscopy department since the early phase of the pandemic in 2020: A questionnaire study among patients with canceled examinations at a single Japanese institution

INTRODUCTION

In early 2020, the Japanese government declared a nationwide state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the impact of the emergency declaration on endoscopy adherence and conducted a follow-up study of patients with canceled examinations at a tertiary endoscopy facility in Japan in 2020.

METHODS

We compared the number of endoscopies performed, and cancelations at the endoscopy unit between 2019 and 2020 and used the Bayesian structural time series (BSTS) model to estimate the decrease in the number of endoscopies in 2020. We administered a questionnaire to those who had not undergone a scheduled endoscopy.

RESULTS

Of 14 146 and 13 338 scheduled examinations, 1233 (8.7%) and 1403 (10.5%) were canceled in 2019 and 2020, respectively. During both years, age < 50 years, age > 80 years, upper endoscopy, and experience of endoscopy in the past 5 years were significantly associated with cancelations. In 2020, cancelations in the 14th-26th week of the year, including the period of state of emergency, increased significantly, and more women canceled. Of the 409 questionnaire-respondents, 174 (42.5%) indicated that COVID-19 had influenced their cancelation, and 315 (77.0%) had not undergone similar endoscopic examinations since then. The BSTS model predicted a decrease of 957 (95% CI -1213 to -708, P = .003) examinations.

CONCLUSION

In 2020, despite low numbers of COVID-19 cases in the study site, the number of endoscopies decreased, and cancelation increased. Further research is needed on the future impact of a decrease in the number of endoscopies during a COVID-19 pandemic.

Integrating Molecular Analysis into the Pathologic Evaluation of Pancreatic Cysts

The development of cross-sectional imaging techniques has enhanced the detection of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). PCLs are found in approximately 2% of the general population, often as incidentally detected lesions on computed tomography or MRI during the evaluation of other medical conditions. Broadly, PCLs are classified as mucinous or nonmucinous. Mucinous PCLs include mucinous cystic neoplasms and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Nonmucinous PCLs include pseudocysts, serous cystadenomas, solid pseudopapillary neoplasms, and cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, as well as cystic acinar cell carcinoma, cystic degeneration of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, lymphoepithelial cyst, and others.

Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms

Early detection of high-risk pancreatic cystic lesions enables potentially curative surgical resection, and early detection of lesions without worrisome features may lead to appropriate surveillance. Regrettably, differentiating premalignant and malignant cysts from nonmalignant ones remains challenging. However, emerging additional diagnostic tools, including the needle biopsy with microforceps and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy, are of exciting potential along with cyst fluid analysis".

Giant Hemorrhagic Pancreatic Pseudocyst: A Case Report and Guidelines for Care

Pancreatic pseudocysts are potential sequelae of acute or chronic pancreatitis. In some cases, enzymatic degradation of the lining between a pseudocyst and the splenic artery, or surrounding vessels, can occur, resulting in a hemorrhagic pancreatic pseudocyst. Very few of these hemorrhagic pseudocysts meet the criteria for giant pseudocysts. We discuss the case of a 30-year-old male patient with a history of alcohol abuse who presented to the hospital with a giant hemorrhagic pancreatic pseudocyst; he was admitted for expectant management and was subsequently discharged. This case report seeks to shed light on the dearth of similar cases.

Exosomal glypican-1 is elevated in pancreatic cancer precursors and can signal genetic predisposition in the absence of endoscopic ultrasound abnormalities

BACKGROUND

Individuals within specific risk groups for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) [mucinous cystic lesions (MCLs), hereditary risk (HR), and new-late onset diabetes mellitus (NLOD)] represent an opportunity for early cancer detection. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a premium image modality for PDAC screening and precursor lesion characterization. While no specific biomarker is currently clinically available for this purpose, glypican-1 (GPC1) is overexpressed in the circulating exosomes (crExos) of patients with PDAC compared with healthy subjects or those harboring benign pancreatic diseases.

AIM

To evaluate the capacity of GPC1⁺ crExos to identify individuals at higher risk within these specific groups, all characterized by EUS.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study with a prospective unicentric cohort included 88 subjects: 40 patients with MCL, 20 individuals with HR, and 20 patients with NLOD. A control group (CG) was submitted to EUS for other reasons than pancreatic pathology, with normal pancreas and absence of hereditary risk factors (n = 8). The inclusion period was between October 2016 and January 2019, and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal. All patients provided written informed consent. EUS and blood tests for quantification of GPC1⁺ crExos by flow cytometry and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) levels by ELISA were performed in all subjects. EUS-guided tissue acquisition was done whenever necessary. For statistical analysis, SPSS^® 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, United States) version was used. All graphs were created using GraphPad Prism 7.00 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, United States).

RESULTS

Half of MCLs harbored worrisome features (WF) or high-risk stigmata (HRS). Pancreatic abnormalities were detected by EUS in 10.0% and 35.0% in HR and NLOD individuals, respectively, all considered non-malignant and “harmless.” Median levels of GPC1⁺ crExos were statistically different: MCL [99.4%, interquartile range (IQR): 94.9%-99.8%], HR (82.0%, IQR: 28.9%-98.2%), NLOD (12.6%, IQR: 5.2%-63.4%), and CG (16.2%, IQR: 6.6%-20.1%) (P < 0.0001). Median levels of CA 19-9 were within the normal range in all groups (standard clinical cut-off of 37 U/mL). Within HR, individuals with a positive history of cancer had higher median levels of GPC1⁺ crExos (97.9%; IQR: 61.7%-99.5%), compared to those without (59.7%; IQR: 26.3%-96.4%), despite no statistical significance (P = 0.21). Pancreatic cysts with WF/HRS were statistically associated with higher median levels of GPC1⁺ crExos (99.6%; IQR: 97.6%-99.8%) compared to those without (96.5%; IQR: 81.3%-99.5%) (P = 0.011), presenting an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.723 (sensitivity 75.0% and specificity 67.7%, using a cut-off of 98.5%; P = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

GPC1⁺ crExos may act as biomarker to support the diagnosis and stratification of PDAC precursor lesions, and in signaling individuals with genetic predisposition in the absence of EUS abnormalities.

Artificial intelligence for the detection of pancreatic lesions

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal neoplasms among common cancers worldwide, and PCLs are well-known precursors of this type of cancer. Artificial intelligence (AI) could help to improve and speed up the detection and classification of pancreatic lesions. The aim of this review is to summarize the articles addressing the diagnostic yield of artificial intelligence applied to medical imaging (computed tomography [CT] and/or magnetic resonance [MR]) for the detection of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cystic lesions.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus (from January 2010 to April 2021) to identify full articles evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of AI-based methods processing CT or MR images to detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) or pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs).

RESULTS

We found 20 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. Most of the AI-based systems used were convolutional neural networks. Ten studies addressed the use of AI to detect PDAC, eight studies aimed to detect and classify PCLs, and 4 aimed to predict the presence of high-grade dysplasia or cancer.

CONCLUSION

AI techniques have shown to be a promising tool which is expected to be helpful for most radiologists' tasks. However, methodologic concerns must be addressed, and prospective clinical studies should be carried out before implementation in clinical practice.

Diagnosis and treatment of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas in children: A report of 18 cases

Purpose

To explore the incidence, imaging and treatment of solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas in children, and Summarize the experience of treatment.

Methods

The clinical data of 18 children with a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas treated in our hospital from January 2012 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The age range was 8-16 years old, the average age was 11.67 years old, and the median age was 11.5 years old, namely, three boys with an average age of 10 years old and 15 girls with an average age of 12 years old. In total, two cases were admitted to the hospital because of trauma, seven cases were found in physical examination, and nine cases were admitted with the abdominal pain as the main complaint. Enhanced CT examination was performed before operation, nuclear magnetic resonance examination and abdominal ultrasound examination were performed in some children, and plain CT scan was performed after operation.

Results

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas can occur in all parts of the pancreas, especially in the body and tail of the pancreas. Among the 18 cases, SPN occurred in the head of pancreas in 5 cases (27.78%), the neck of pancreas in 2 cases (11.11%), and the body and tail of pancreas in 11 cases (61.11%). All the 18 children were treated by operation. among them, 4 cases underwent choledochal pancreatico duodenectomy (1 case), 4 cases underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with splenectomy (3 cases), 6 cases underwent spleen-preserving pancreatectomy / tail pancreatectomy (1 case), 3 cases underwent enucleation of pancreatic tumor due to exogenous growth, 1 case underwent laparoscopic partial pancreatectomy and pancreaticoenterostomy. Laparotomy was performed in 12 cases and endoscopic surgery in 6 cases. Postoperative pathology confirmed solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas. None of the patients received radiotherapy and chemotherapy after operation and were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. There was no recurrence, metastasis or pancreatic dysfunction.

Conclusion

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas in children is a rare, low-grade malignant solid tumor with no specific clinical manifestations and laboratory examinations. Preoperative diagnosis mainly depends on enhanced CT. Surgical resection of tumor is a reliable treatment, and the specific operation is mainly based on the experience of the chief surgeon, the location of the tumor and the invasion of surrounding tissue. At present, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of other treatment options, and surgical resection of the tumor has a good prognosis.

The clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration on the patients with low-risk pancreatic cystic lesions

Background and aims

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is playing a more and more important role in the management of pancreatic cystic lesion (PCLs). The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical impact of EUS and EUS guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) on patients with low-risk PCLs.

Materials and methods

Low-risk PCL patients who underwent EUS-FNA in 2 edoscopic centers were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The clinical impact of EUS-FNA on these patients was analyzed and the predictors for significance EUS-FNA (defined by diagnosis and treatment method change, new high-risk feature identified after imaging scans) were analyzed by logistic regression analyses.

Results

From July 2004 to February 2017, 186 patients with low-risk PCLs were included. The study cohort had a mean age of 52.4 ± 15.9 years (range: 19-86 years) with 89 (47.8%) male patients included. The clinical significance of EUS-FNAs was observed in 74 patients (39.8%). The presumed diagnoses of PCLs by imaging were changed in 51 (51/74, 68.9%) patients. Nineteen (19/74, 25.7%) new high-risk features were identified by EUS-FNA, and four patients (4/74, 5.4%) underwent surgery due to suspicious or malignant cytology. Based on multivariate analysis, large cyst size [odds ratio (OR): 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.19, P = 0.033], young age (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.99, P = 0.041) and BMI over 25 (OR: 3.15, 95% CI: 1.29–7.86, P = 0.013) were independent predictors of clinical significance for EUS-FNA. The optimal age and cyst size to predict significance EUS-FNA was 46.0 years and 2.3cm.

Conclusions

On the basis of a 2-center retrospective study, EUS-FNA was clinically significant in about 40% of low-risk PCLs, especially in young, large cyst size, and overweight patients.

The Natural Course of Pancreatic Cysts in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results of a Long-term Follow-up

OBJECTIVES

The natural course of pancreatic cysts in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. We aim to describe the natural course of pancreatic cysts in IBD and evaluate long-term outcomes.

METHODS

A database of patients with abdominal imaging diagnosis of pancreatic cysts (2008-2019) was reviewed. Patients with IBD and pancreatic cysts (study group) and pancreatic cysts without IBD (controls) were selected. Outcomes were measured at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. Several logistic regression models were used for analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 1789 patients evaluated, 1690 had pancreatic cysts without IBD, and 78 had IBD and pancreatic cysts. Majority of cysts were intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Patients with IBD and pancreatic cysts were more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cysts at a younger age (P < 0.001) and were more likely to undergo surgical intervention at a younger age (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to evaluate the natural course of pancreatic cysts in IBD patients. Patients with IBD were more likely to have pancreatic cysts detected at a younger age. Despite the early presentation, there were no differences in long-term outcomes. Patients with IBD with pancreatic cysts should be managed similarly to those without IBD.

Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance

Pancreatic cysts (PC) are an increasingly common problem facing general gastroenterologists and generalists. They can be divided into 3 groups. First, those that have no risk of developing into pancreatic cancer, such as a pseudocyst or serous cystadenomas (SCAs). Second, mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), which are precursor lesions to high-grade dysplasia and pancreatic cancer. Third, solid cancers of the pancreas, such as neuroendocrine tumors and pancreatic adenocarcinomas, which have undergone cystic degeneration.

Advances in the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are a heterogenous group of lesions ranging from benign to malignant. There has been an increase in PCLs prevalence in recent years, mostly due to advances in imaging techniques, increased awareness of their existence and population aging. Reliable discrimination between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cystic lesions is paramount to ensuring adequate treatment and follow-up. Although conventional diagnostic techniques such as ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer tomography (CT) can easily identify these lesions, assessing the risk of malignancy is limited. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is superior to cross-sectional imaging in identifying potentially malignant lesions due to its high resolution and better imaging characteristics, and the advantage of allowing for cyst fluid sampling via fine-needle aspiration (FNA). More complex testing, such as cytological and histopathological analysis and biochemical and molecular testing of the aspirated fluid, can ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Value of pancreatic cyst fluid SPINK1 and glucose in differentiating potentially malignant cysts from those of benign nature: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of malignant pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) is challenging as there is no investigation that offers both high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for a definite diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis of cyst type is vital in order to not miss opportunities for early treatment of potentially malignant lesions and to avoid unnecessary surgeries. Serine protease inhibitor Kazal type I (SPINK1) and glucose are promising cyst fluid markers for differentiation of mucinous from non-mucinous cysts. We aim to validate the value of SPINK1 and glucose in detecting potentially malignant PCLs.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted on 80 patients presenting with PCLs. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) evaluation of detailed cyst morphology and EUS with fine needle aspiration (FNA) were done. Fluid analysis for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), glucose and SPINK1 and cytopathology were done. We compared these data with the final diagnosis based on cytopathological and postoperative histopathological examination.

RESULTS

Cyst fluid SPINK1 was significantly higher in malignant or potentially malignant cysts compared to benign cysts (0.91 vs 0.47 ng/ml; P = 0.001). Also, glucose was significantly lower in malignant or potentially malignant cysts compared to benign cysts (21.5 vs 68.5 mg/dl; P = 0.0001). Glucose and SPINK1 had the best sensitivity and specificity for differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous cysts with 84.78% and 73.53% (AUC 0.76; 95% CI [0.65-0.88]; cutoff value = 42 mg/dl), and 70.59% and 65.22% (AUC 0.72; 95% CI [0.64-0.86]; cutoff value = 0.58 ug/L) respectively. CEA level >192 ng/ml, high SPINK1 level and lymph node enlargement were the independent predictors of malignant cysts.

CONCLUSION

Cyst fluid SPINK1 and glucose are promising diagnostic markers for the diagnosis of potentially malignant PCLs.

Comparison of Society Guidelines for the Management and Surveillance of Pancreatic Cysts: A Review

Importance

The identification of incidental pancreas cystic lesions (PCLs) has increased in recent decades with the expanded use and improved sensitivity of cross-sectional imaging. Because the overall risk of malignancy associated with PCLs is low, yet the relative morbidity of pancreatic surgery is high, evidence-based guidelines are necessary for appropriate surveillance and management. Therefore, this article provides a review of existing guidelines regarding surveillance and management of PCLs and highlights recent advances in the diagnostic evaluation of cysts and the postresection management of mucinous lesions.

Observations

There are 5 main guidelines related to the management of PCLs: the American Gastrointestinal Association (AGA) guidelines, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines, the American College of Radiology (ACR) recommendations, the European evidence-based guidelines, and the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP)/Fukuoka guidelines. These guidelines are based on retrospective studies that do not account or control for most tumor- and patient-specific factors. These guidelines also vary in scope, recommendations for surgical resection vs surveillance, as well as duration and type of follow-up.

Conclusions and Relevance

PCL guidelines should be viewed within the context of the data limitations on which they are based. PCL subtype-specific guidelines on surveillance and treatment are needed. In the future, the integration of cyst-specific genomic analysis, as well as evolutions in advanced diagnostic tools, such as cyst fluid next-generation sequencing and EUS-guided confocal laser endomicroscopy, may also better inform treatment guidelines. Owing to the current low-quality evidence on which many guidelines are based and the inherent morbidity of pancreas surgery, it is imperative that patients with PCLs are referred to institutions with advanced diagnostics and a multidisciplinary approach to patient surveillance and management.