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Background: Strict follow-up is recommended for branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN) to avoid missing the development of high-risk stigmata (HRS) at a premalignant stage. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the development of HRS during follow-up.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 283 patients with BD-IPMN, treated at the Okayama University Hospital in Japan between January 2009 and December 2016. Only patients with imaging studies indicative of classical features of BD-IPMN without HRS and followed for >1 year were included in the study. We performed radiological follow-up every 6 months and collected patients’ demographic data, cyst characteristics, and clinical outcomes. Cyst size was recorded at the initial and final imaging studies and growth rate was calculated. The primary outcome was to evaluate the risk factors for development of HRS in patients with BD-IPMN without HRS at the initial diagnosis.Results: Patients with BD-IPMN had a median follow-up of 53.3 months. Based on image analyses, a mean cysts size were initially 18.0 mm and their final size was 20.4 mm, and the mean annual cyst growth was 0.57 mm. Among them, 10 patients (3.5%) developed HRS after a median surveillance period of 55.8 months. Main pancreatic duct (MPD) size (5-9 mm) and cyst growth rate (>2.5 mm/year) were, both, independent risk factors for the development of HRS (odds ratio, 14.2; 95% CI, 3.1-65.2, P = .0006, and odds ratio, 6.1; 95% CI 1.5-25.5, P = .014). Considering the number of worrisome features (WFs), the rate of HRS development was not a WF: 2.0% (4/199), a single WF: 1.6% (1/62), multiple WFs: 22.7% (5/22), and significantly higher in multiple WFs (95% CI: 4.0–57.1; p=.0003).Conclusions: MPD dilation, rapid cyst growth, and multiple WFs were significant risk factors for the development of HRS. In the presence of such features, it is necessary to closely follow the development of HRS and avoid missing the best opportunity for surgical intervention.

Background Pancreatic juice cytology (PJC) is a tool for diagnosing malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN); however, the accuracy is insufficient using the conventional method. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) improves the cell recovery rate, and almost all cells can be evaluated. We evaluated the efficacy of PJC with LBC for malignant IPMN. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 90 patients with suspected malignant IPMN who underwent PJC before pancreatectomy. PJC with smear and LBC methods was conducted in 52 patients (between June 2003 to December 2011) and 38 patients (between January 2012 to December 2018). Based on the imaging studies, all of the patients were classified according to the international consensus guidelines for IPMN revised in 2017. Results Of the 90 patients, 43 (48%) had malignant IPMN (high-grade dysplasia or invasive carcinoma), and the remaining patients had non-malignant IPMN (intermediate- or low-grade dysplasia). LBC increased the accuracy of PJC for the diagnosis of malignant IPMN (smear method: 56% [29/52] vs. LBC method: 76% [29/38]; P = 0.044). In a multivariate analysis, LBC was a significant factor influencing the accurate diagnosis of PJC (odds ratio: 3.52; P = 0.021). Furthermore, LBC increased the accuracy of PJC for malignant IPMN in patients with worrisome features (smear method: 66% [19/29] vs. LBC method: 93% [14/15]; P = 0.043). Conclusions LBC increases the accuracy of PJC for diagnosing malignant IPMN compared with the conventional smear method.

BackgroundEndoscopic ultrasound is useful for obtaining high-resolution images of pancreaticobiliary diseases, but is not readily available for physical checkups. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of single-session esophagogastroduodenoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound in the detection of upper-gastrointestinal and pancreaticobiliary diseases using a forward-viewing radial scan ultrasonic endoscope.MethodsA total of 148 patients who were scheduled for upper-gastrointestinal screening using an endoscope were prospectively included. All patients were examined by EUS in combination with EGD using a forward-viewing radial scan ultrasonic endoscope. The primary endpoint was the safety of the procedures. The secondary endpoints were the prevalence of diseases, the basal imaging capability of EUS, the procedure time, total dose of propofol, and the correlation between background factors and the prevalence of pancreatic disease. The imaging capability at each region was scored as 0 (invisible) to 2 (sufficient visualization to evaluate the organs).ResultsIntraoperative hypotension occurred as an adverse event of intravenous anesthesia in one patient. There were 82 pancreaticobiliary findings and 165 upper-gastrointestinal findings (malignancy not included). Follicular lymphoma of the intra-abdominal lymph nodes was detected in one patient. The mean imaging scores of each section were 1.95 (pancreatic head and papilla), 2.0 (pancreatic body), 1.99 (pancreatic tail), and 1.89 (common bile duct and gallbladder). Age, history of diabetes mellitus, and smoking history were significantly associated with the prevalence of pancreatic diseases.ConclusionThe simultaneous performance of EGD and EUS using a new ultrasonic endoscope is tolerable and safe for upper-gastrointestinal and pancreaticobiliary screening.