International consensus on the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas

MRI features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile ducts, "The myth about the cyst": A systematic review

Rationale and objectives

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile ducts (IPMN-B) is a true pre-cancerous lesion, which shares common features with pancreatic IPMN (IPMN-P). While IPMN-P is a well described entity for which guidelines were formulated and revised, IPMN-B is a poorly described entity.We carried out a systematic review to evaluate the existing literature, emphasizing the role of MRI in IPMN-B depiction.

Materials and methods

PubMed database was used to identify original studies and case series that reported MR Imaging features of IPMN-B. The search keywords were "IPMN OR intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm OR IPNB OR intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct AND Biliary OR biliary cancer OR hepatic cystic lesions". Risk of bias and applicability were evaluated using the QUADAS-2 tool.

Results

884 Records were Identified through database searching. 12 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, resulting in MR features of 288 patients. All the studies were retrospective. Classic features of IPMN-B are under-described. Few studies note worrisome features, concerning for an underlying malignancy. 50 % of the studies had a high risk of bias and concerns regarding applicability.

Conclusions

The MRI features of IPMN-B are not well elaborated and need to be further studied. Worrisome features and guidelines regarding reporting the imaging findings should be established and published. Radiologists should be aware of IPMN-B, since malignancy diagnosis in an early stage will yield improved prognosis.

Favorable response after radiation therapy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms manifesting as acute recurrent pancreatitis: A case report

BACKGROUND

There has been an increasing number of elderly patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), who are surgically intolerant and require less invasive treatment options, which are limited. In the present study, we report a case of IPMN presenting with acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP), in which radiation therapy effectively prevented further attacks of ARP and reduced tumor volume.

CASE SUMMARY

An 83-year-old man was referred to our hospital with an asymptomatic incidental pancreatic cyst. Endoscopic ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a multiloculated tumor in the head of the pancreas, with dilated pancreatic ducts and mural nodules. The patient was diagnosed with mixed-type IPMN, and five years later, he developed ARP. Several endoscopic pancreatic ductal balloon dilatations failed to prevent further ARP attacks. Surgery was considered clinically inappropriate because of his old age and comorbidities. He was referred to our department for radiation therapy targeted at those lesions causing intraductal hypertension and radiation was administered at a dose of 50 Gy. An magnetic resonance imaging scan taken ten weeks after treatment revealed a decrease in tumor size and improvement of pancreatic duct dilatation. Fourteen months later, he remains symptom-free from ARP.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the important role of radiation therapy in mitigating the signs and symptoms of ARP in patients with inoperable IPMN.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Indications for Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Patients with Pancreatic and Biliary Disease—Novel Interventional Procedures

There is growing evidence supporting the substantial, essential and indispensable role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as a key diagnostic armamentarium for upper GI oncologic surgery. Well described in countless publications, EUS holds that position in gastroenterological expert centers all over Europe. Despite its undisputable contributions to oncologic upper GI surgery, the availability of this technique at the expert level shows up in an irregular spread pattern. Endoscopic ultrasound’s primary use during the first few years after its creation was the detection of pancreatic cancer. From then on, EUS developed in different directions, becoming a diagnostic tool that increasingly better defines its status as a method of minimally invasive therapeutic applications and a useful addition to surgical options. As a result, several surgical interventions could even be replaced by ultrasound-targeted interventions. This process took place in just a few years and was made possible by technical development that sensibly combined high-resolution ultrasound with therapeutic endoscopy. The present article will serve to cover the most prevalent uses with supporting data considering the growing list of suggested indications for EUS while also examining cutting-edge initiatives that might soon become the standard of clinical practice. Endoscopic centers with high expertise are needed to train future experts in the growing field of EUS interventions.

Updates in the Diagnosis of Intraductal Neoplasms of the Pancreas

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest types of cancer worldwide. There are many reasons for this dismal prognosis, including the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and the lack of effective therapeutic approaches. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) represent detectable and treatable precursor lesions of PDAC. Our understanding of the pathology of IPMNs has evolved over the past few decades, and new advances in diagnostic tools have emerged. The new World Health Organization (WHO) classification scheme now recognizes the previously considered variants of IPMNs, such as intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms (IOPNs) and intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms (ITPNs), as distinct neoplasms. New imaging and molecular diagnostic tests are being developed to recognize these PDAC precursor lesions better. Here, we review the advances in diagnostic tools for IPMNs, IOPNs, and ITPNs, emphasizing the new (5th edition, 2019) WHO classification for pathological diagnosis, molecular markers, new laboratory tests, and imaging tools.

Pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: Current diagnosis and management

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) represent approximately 1% of all pancreatic neoplasms and 25% of cystic neoplasms. They are divided into three types: main duct-IPMN (MD-IPPMN), branch duct-IPMN (BD-IPMN), and mixed type-IPMN. In this review, diagnostics, including clinical presentation and radiological investigations, were described. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most useful for most IPMNs. Management depends on the type and radiological features of IPMNs. Surgery is recommended for MD-IPMN. For BD-IPMN, management involves surgery or surveillance depending on the tumor size, cyst growth rate, solid components, main duct dilatation, high-grade dysplasia in cytology, the presence of symptoms (jaundice, new-onset diabetes, pancreatitis), and CA 19.9 serum level. The patient’s age and comorbidities should also be taken into consideration. Currently, there are different guidelines regarding the diagnosis and management of IPMNs. In this review, the following guidelines were presented: Sendai International Association of Pancreatology guidelines (2006), American Gastroenterological Association guidelines, revised international consensus Fukuoka guidelines (2012), revised international consensus Fukuoka guidelines (2017), and European evidence-based guidelines according to the European Study Group on Cystic Tumours of the Pancreas (2018). The Verona Evidence-Based Meeting 2020 was also presented and discussed.

Validation of Serum Biomarkers That Complement CA19-9 in Detecting Early Pancreatic Cancer Using Electrochemiluminescent-Based Multiplex Immunoassays

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy; its early detection is critical for improving prognosis. Electrochemiluminescent-based multiplex immunoassays were developed with high analytical performance. All proteins were analyzed in sera of patients diagnosed with PDAC (n = 138), benign pancreatic conditions (111), and healthy controls (70). The clinical performance of these markers was evaluated individually or in combination for their complementarity to CA19-9 in detecting early PDAC. Logistic regression modeling including sex and age as cofactors identified a two-marker panel of CA19-9 and CA-125 that significantly improved the performance of CA19-9 alone in discriminating PDAC (AUC: 0.857 vs. 0.766), as well as early stage PDAC (0.805 vs. 0.702) from intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). At a fixed specificity of 80%, the panel significantly improved sensitivities (78% vs. 41% or 72% vs. 59%). A two-marker panel of HE4 and CEA significantly outperformed CA19-9 in separating IPMN from chronic pancreatitis (0.841 vs. 0.501). The biomarker panels evaluated by assays demonstrated potential complementarity to CA19-9 in detecting early PDAC, warranting additional clinical validation to determine their role in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Branch Duct - IPMN and PanIN, in IgG4-Autoimmune pancreatitis: A case report

The presence of pancreatic lesions in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis requires histological diagnosis (percutaneous or endoscopic biopsy) to exclude malignancy. A nonspecific histology after endoscopic or percutaneous biopsy of a pancreatic lesion may require surgical excision and definite histology.

Pancreatic Cysts and Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic lesions in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are primarily cysts. They are increasingly recognized, with isolated reports of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN).

METHODS

Retrospective study to determine prevalence, number, size, and location of pancreatic abnormalities using abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of genotyped ADPKD patients (seen February 1998 to October 2013) and compared with age- and sex-matched non-ADPKD controls. We evaluated presentation, investigation, and management of all IPMNs among individuals with ADPKD (January 1997 to December 2016).

RESULTS

Abdominal MRIs were examined for 271 genotyped ADPKD patients. A pancreatic cyst lesion (PCL) was detected in 52 patients (19%; 95% confidence interval, 15%-23%). Thirty-seven (71%) had a solitary PCL; 15 (28%) had multiple. Pancreatic cyst lesion prevalence did not differ by genotype. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia was detected in 1% of ADPKD cases. Among 12 IPMN patients (7 branch duct; 5 main duct or mixed type) monitored for about 140 months, 2 with main duct IPMNs required Whipple resection, and 1 patient died of complications from small-bowel obstruction after declining surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

With MRI, PCLs were detected in 19% and IPMNs in 1% of 271 ADPKD patients with proven mutations, without difference across genotypes. Pancreatic cyst lesions were asymptomatic and remained stable in size.

CT imaging comparison between intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct and papillary cholangiocarcinomas

OBJECTIVES

To identify imaging features that assist in discriminating intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNBs) from papillary cholangiocarcinomas (PCCs).

METHODS

This study was approved by the institutional review board. Using the recently proposed histological diagnostic criteria for biliary papillary neoplasms, IPNBs and PCCs were selected from 537 biliary neoplasms consecutively resected in a 12.5-year period. Clinical and imaging features were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The histology review identified 19 IPNBs and 48 PCCs, representing an estimated prevalence of IPNBs among biliary neoplasms of 4%. Approximately one half of IPNBs were incidentally found on imaging conducted for other purposes. In terms of tumor location, 15/19 IPNBs (79%) developed in intrahepatic bile ducts, and 41/48 PCCs (85%) in the distal bile duct. Cystic appearance was highly suggestive for IPNBs (p < 0.001). Using these two parameters, 78% of papillary bile duct neoplasms could be classified into IPNBs or PCCs. Other imaging findings favoring IPNBs included frond-like mural nodule, downstream bile duct dilatation, and the lack of abnormal enhancement in the adjacent bile duct. Interestingly, two patients with non-invasive or microinvasive IPNB had undergone abdominal imaging studies > 3 years before, and a retrospective review of the previous images identified small nodular or cystic lesions, suggesting a less progressive nature of IPNBs than currently thought.

CONCLUSIONS

Imaging findings useful for discriminating IPNBs from PCCs appear to be tumor location, shape of tumor, appearance of mural nodules, duct dilatation at unaffected duct, and abnormal enhancement of the adjacent bile duct.

KEY POINTS

• Intrahepatic location and cystic dilatation of the affected bile duct are the strong discriminators between IPNBs and PCCs. • The shape of the mural nodule and appearance of the neighboring bile duct are helpful for distinguishing IPNBs and PCCs. • The less aggressive behavior of IPNBs compared with PCCs may facilitate less invasive management in patients with IPNB.

Evaluation of the International Consensus Guidelines for the Surgical Resection of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms

BACKGROUND

International consensus guidelines for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) were revised in 2012.

AIMS

We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of each predictor in the 2006 and 2012 guidelines and validate the diagnostic value and surgical indications.

METHODS

Forty-two patients with surgically resected IPMNs were included. Each predictor was applied to evaluate its diagnostic value.

RESULTS

The 2012 guidelines had greater accuracy for invasive carcinoma than the 2006 guidelines (64.3 vs. 31.0%). Moreover, the accuracy for high-grade dysplasia was also increased (48.6 vs. 77.1%). When the main pancreatic duct (MPD) size ≥8 mm was substituted for MPD size ≥10 mm in the 2012 guidelines, the accuracy for high-grade dysplasia was 80.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2012 guidelines exhibited increased diagnostic accuracy for invasive IPMN. It is important to consider surgical resection prior to invasive carcinoma, and high-risk stigmata might be a useful diagnostic criterion. Furthermore, MPD size ≥8 mm may be predictive of high-grade dysplasia.

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas: Current Understanding and Future Directions for Stratification of Malignancy Risk

The incidence of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) has been increasing over the past decade, mainly owing to increased awareness and the increased use of cross-sectional imaging. The Sendai and Fukuoka consensus guidelines provide us with clinical management guidelines and algorithms; however, the clinical management of IPMNs continues to be challenging. Our incomplete understanding of the natural history of the disease, and the events and pathways that permit progression to adenocarcinoma, result in difficulties predicting which tumors are high risk and will progress to invasive disease. In this review, we summarize the current management guidelines and describe ongoing efforts to more clearly stratify IPMNs by risk of malignancy and identify IPMNs with malignant potential or ongoing malignant transformation.

Cross-sectional prevalence of pancreatic cystic lesions in patients with acromegaly, a single-center experience

PURPOSE

Acromegaly is a disease associated with an increased risk for several kinds of neoplasms including colon and thyroid cancer. Although the association between acromegaly and pancreatic neoplasms has not been elucidated, it has recently been reported that GNAS gene mutations were found in 58% of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), which are representative pancreatic cystic lesions, suggesting a link between IPMNs and acromegaly. To assess the prevalence of pancreatic cystic lesions in patients with acromegaly, we performed a retrospective cross-sectional single institute study.

METHODS

Thirty consecutive acromegalic patients (20 females and 10 males; mean age, 60.9 ± 11.9 years) who underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging between 2007 and 2015 at Kobe University Hospital were recruited. We also analyzed the relationship between presence of pancreatic cystic lesions and somatic GNAS mutations in pituitary tumors.

RESULTS

Seventeen of 30 (56.7%) patients studied had pancreatic cystic lesions. Nine of 17 patients (52.9%) were diagnosed with IPMNs based on imaging findings. These results suggest that the prevalence of IPMNs may be higher in acromegalic patients in acromegalic patients than historically observed in control patients (up to 13.5%). In patients with pancreatic cystic lesions, the mean patient age was higher and the duration of disease was longer than in those without pancreatic cystic lesions (67.0 ± 2.3 vs. 53.0 ± 2.7 years, p < 0.001, 15.5 ± 2.4 vs. 7.3 ± 2.8 years, p = 0.04). There were no differences in serum growth hormone levels or insulin-like growth factor standard deviation scores between these two groups (21.3 ± 6.4 vs. 23.0 ± 7.4 ng/ml, p = 0.86, 6.6 ± 0.5 vs. 8.0 ± 0.6, p = 0.70). Neither the presence of somatic GNAS mutation in a pituitary tumor nor low signal intensity of the tumor in T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging was associated with the presence of pancreatic cystic lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that old or long-suffering patients with acromegaly have a higher prevalence of pancreatic cystic lesions. Moreover, the prevalence of pancreatic cystic lesions may be increased in acromegalic patients.

Imaging Pancreatic Cysts with CT and MRI

CT and MRI are the imaging modalities of choice to guide the clinical management of incidentally discovered pancreatic cysts. Most of these lesions are mucinous cysts with varying degrees of malignant potential. This article reviews the CT and MRI findings that help differentiate a potentially aggressive lesion that requires EUS or surgery from a lesion of low malignant potential that is appropriate for imaging surveillance. The imaging-based societal guidelines for these cysts are reviewed.

Dynamics of Fukuoka Criteria and Patient Management in Pancreatic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMNs) During Follow-Up

BACKGROUND Pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) present a clinical challenge. Evidence-based guidelines are lacking. The so-called "Fukuoka criteria" were developed to assess the risk of malignancy in IPMNs upon imaging. However, little is known about their diagnostic value and the natural course of IPMNs. Thus, the aim of this study was the assessment of Fukuoka criteria and patient management in pancreatic IPMNs -during follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS IPMNs were identified via retrospective survey of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examinations. Fukuoka criteria were assessed on EUS findings and additional imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound). Patients' symptoms and comorbidities were recorded. Dynamics of Fukuoka criteria and patient management were compared at first presentation and during follow-up. RESULTS We screened 1324 EUS examinations. Sixty-five patients (male/female, 14/37; mean age, 68.8 years; range, 48-85 years) with IPMNs were identified (57 branch duct (BD-)IPMNs, 3 main duct (MD-) IPMNs, 5 mixed-type (MT)-IPMNs). Seven patients received surgical resection (4 BD-IPMNs, 2 MD-IPMNs, 1 MT-IPMN). Nine BD-IPMNs had neither surgery nor follow-up. Fifty-one patients (44 BD-IPMNs, 2 MD-IPMNs, 5 MT-IPMNs) underwent follow-up (mean duration, 18.7 months; range, 3-139 months). There were 15/51 patients who were initially Fukuoka-positive. One MD-IPMN, 4/5 MT-IPMNs, and 13/44 BD-IPMNs showed progressive changes but were not resected due to patients' refusal or comorbidities. Four BD-IPMNs converted to Fukuoka-positive. CONCLUSIONS Evidence-based guidelines for non-invasive dignity assessment of IPMNs are lacking. In our study, MD-IPMNs displayed greater dynamics than BD-IPMNs and MT-IPMNs concerning Fukuoka criteria. Prospective long-term studies are needed to clarify prognostic significance of the single Fukuoka criteria and sensible duration of follow-up.

Quantitation of circulating satellite RNAs in pancreatic cancer patients

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (Pdac) is a malignancy with a poor prognosis due to difficulties in early detection. Although promising biomarkers are increasingly reported, such methods are not yet easy to apply clinically, mainly due to their low reproducibility or technical difficulties. In this study, we developed a convenient and sensitive method for quantifying aberrantly expressed satellite repeat RNAs in sera, which can be used to efficiently detect patients with Pdac. Here, we introduce a Tandem Repeat Amplification by nuclease Protection (TRAP) method combined with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect human satellite II (HSATII) RNAs, which are specifically expressed in human Pdacs at greater levels than normal tissues but are difficult to measure due to their repetitive sequences and irregularities. HSATII RNA core sequence levels in sera were significantly higher in Pdac patients compared with noncancer patients (median copy number: 14.75 and 3.17 per μl in the training set and 17.35 and 2.9 in the validation set, respectively). In addition, patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), a precancerous lesion of Pdac, could also be efficiently detected. This method can be routinely applied to screen patients with Pdac and high-risk patients, facilitating the development of preventive medicine for this disease.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: radiological predictors of malignant transformation and the introduction of bile duct dilation to current guidelines

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the current guidelines as a model to predict malignancy and to determine further radiological predictors of malignancy in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs).

METHODS

384 patients who had undergone a pancreatic operation with the pathological diagnosis of IPMN as well as applicable pre-operative imaging (CT/MRI) were included in the study. Images were evaluated retrospectively in consensus by two radiologists, using a standardized checklist. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and receiver operator curve analysis were performed to assess the International Consensus Guidelines and other radiological predictors of clinical malignancy (defined as carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma).

RESULTS

The best independent predictors of malignancy (n = 191) were solid components [odds ratio (OR) 3.98], parenchymal atrophy with main pancreatic duct dilation 5-9 mm (OR: 5.1) and common bile duct (CBD) dilation (OR: 31.26). >96% of all cases with CBD dilation were malignant IPMNs (positive-predictive value 96.4%; negative-predictive value 63.1%). Analysis of the current guidelines showed a diagnostic improvement with the addition of CBD dilation on determining the malignancy of IPMNs (sensitivity 82.2%/86.9%; specificity 72.7%/74.6%). Subanalysis of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs; n = 168) also resulted in a diagnostic improvement with the addition of CBD dilation (sensitivity 28.6%/45.2%; specificity 92.9%/92.1%). The best independent predictors of malignancy for BD-IPMNs were parenchymal atrophy (OR: 4.00) and CBD dilation (OR: 29.3). Frequency analysis revealed that even small BD-IPMNs had already undergone malignant transformation (≤1 cm: 15%; 1-2 cm: 26%; 2-3 cm: 20%) with about 10% of those having a dilated bile duct.

CONCLUSION

CBD dilation was a significant positive predictor of malignancy in IPMNs regardless of their size.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Introduction of CBD dilation as a radiological predictor for malignancy might increase the diagnostic accuracy of current imaging-based guidelines.