Temporal progression of pancreatic cancer computed tomography findings until diagnosis: A large-scale multicenter study

Carcinoma in situ of the pancreas detected by progressive focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy without main pancreatic ductal change

We report a case in which the progression of focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy suggested the presence of high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia/carcinoma in situ. A 77-year-old man was found to have a pancreatic cyst during a health checkup using transabdominal ultrasound. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed multiple cysts, each measuring ≤ 5 mm, in the pancreatic head and body. Over nine years of intermittent follow-up, imaging showed progressive focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy extending from the pancreatic head to the body, without changes in the cysts or stenosis or dilatation of the main pancreatic duct. Three-dimensional computed tomography facilitated visualization of the atrophic progression. Transabdominal and endoscopic ultrasound identified a thin pancreatic parenchyma with a surrounding hyperechoic area but no hypoechoic masses. Serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytological examination suggested adenocarcinoma. Surgery was performed, and histopathological examination revealed a 15-mm atrophic region with high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia or carcinoma in situ confined to the main pancreatic duct. The lesion extended 5 mm downstream and 10 mm upstream. Even in cases of focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy without stenosis or dilation of the main pancreatic duct, its progression may indicate high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia/carcinoma in situ and warrant serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytology.

Potential of Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 and Serum Apolipoprotein A2-Isoforms in the Diagnosis of Stage 0 and IA Pancreatic Cancer

Apolipoprotein A2-ATQ/AT (apoA2-ATQ/AT) is a new biomarker for diagnosing pancreatic cancer (PC). In this study, the value of blood carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and apoA2-ATQ/AT levels in diagnosing stage 0 and IA PC was evaluated. During 2014-2021, 12 patients with stage 0 PC and 12 patients with IA PC (average age: 73.8 years) underwent resection at JA Onomichi General Hospital. In addition, the data of 200 healthy controls were collected from a community-based cohort study. Levels of two apoA2-isoforms were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with specific antibodies to calculate the apoA2-i Index as a surrogate value for apoA2-ATQ/AT. The cutoff value for the apoA2-i Index was determined to be 62.9 μg/mL. CA19-9 levels were also measured through ELISA. Among all 24 patients with PC, the positivity rates for apoA2-i and CA19-9 were 33.3% and 25.0%, respectively. The positivity rates for apoA2-i and CA19-9 were 16.7% and 8.3% in patients with stage 0 PC and 50.0% and 41.7% in those with stage IA, respectively. For CA19-9-negative patients, the apoA2-i positivity rate was 9.1% in stage 0 and 42.9% in stage IA. The combined positivity rate for both markers was 16.7% in stage 0 and 66.7% in stage IA. Imaging findings in apoA2-i- and CA19-9-positive patients included pancreatic duct dilatation (87.5%/100%), duct stenosis (75.0%/50%), and atrophy (87.5%/66.7%). The imaging findings of this study suggest that apoA2-i may enhance the sensitivity for detecting CA19-9-negative stage 0 and IA PC, and complementary measurements with CA19-9 may be valuable for diagnosing early-stage PC. Therefore, minute PC with pancreatic duct dilation, duct stenosis, and atrophy may exhibit a high positivity rate, aiding differential diagnosis.