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Pancreatic cysts are common and often incidentally detected on abdominal imaging. Their prevalence in asymptomatic individuals depends on the screening modality used. The incidence of these lesions increases with age and may be detected in nearly half of elderly patients undergoing high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Some, but not all, pancreas cysts have malignant potential. The overall risk is small but induces significant anxiety for the patient. When determining management options, it is important to consider the patient's age, medical comorbidities, and surgical risks as well as the wishes of the patient. Current strategies include imaging surveillance or surgical resection. Before embarking on cyst surveillance, a clinician must factor in patients' risk of developing malignancy, their life expectancy, medical comorbidities, and if they are a surgical candidate. Surgery poses significant adverse events and mortality, whereas radiographic surveillance imposes healthcare costs and psychological distress to patients with the looming possibility of malignancy. The development and use of endoscopic ultrasound cyst ablation is a minimally invasive alternative in treating pancreatic cystic lesions. This review focuses on the modalities of ethanol ablation, paclitaxel ablation, and radiofrequency ablation of pancreatic cystic lesions., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are precursors of pancreatic cancer. Potential biomarkers of IPMN progression have not been identified in urine. A few urinary biomarkers were reported to be predictive of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we seek to assess their ability to detect high-risk IPMN., Methods: Urine was collected from patients undergoing pancreatic resection and healthy controls. TIMP-1(Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1), LYVE-1(Lymphatic Vessel Endothelial Receptor 1), and PGEM(Prostaglandin E Metabolite) levels were determined by ELISA and analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis., Results: Median urinary TIMP-1 levels were significantly lower in healthy controls (n = 9; 0.32 ng/mg creatinine) compared to PDAC (n = 13; 1.95) but not significantly different between low/moderate-grade (n = 20; 0.71) and high-grade/invasive IPMN (n = 20; 1.12). No significant difference in urinary LYVE-1 was detected between IPMN low/moderate (n = 16; 0.37 ng/mg creatinine) and high/invasive grades (n = 21; 0.09). Urinary PGEM levels were not significantly different between groups., Conclusions: Urinary TIMP-1, LYVE-1, and PGEM do not correlate with malignant potential of pancreatic cysts., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: With advances in cross-sectional imaging, pancreatic cysts are more frequently diagnosed and have become a common indication for pancreatectomy. The impact of pancreatectomy in these patients is important. The purpose of this study was to assess short-term outcomes, long-term nutritional status, quality of life (QOL), and pancreas function after pancreatectomy for cystic neoplasms., Materials and Methods: At a single institution, patients at least 3 y post-pancreatectomy for benign cystic neoplasms were identified. Using a validated questionnaire, short-term outcomes, long-term outcomes including endocrine and exocrine insufficiency, long-term nutritional status, and preoperative and postoperative QOL were compared based on operation and indication for resection., Results: Among 102 eligible patients, 70 had valid contact information and 51 (72.9%) agreed to participate. Median follow-up was 6 (4-8) y. Patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy for benign cysts had higher morbidity than a similar cohort resected for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (patients with at least 1 ≥ grade 2 complication [49.0% versus 31.6%, P = 0.038]). After long-term follow-up, pancreatectomy did not significantly affect perceived QOL. Half of patients had mild-moderate or severe malnourishment, but pancreatic enzyme replacement was reported by only 4 (7.8%) patients. New-onset diabetes was present in 15 (29.4%) patients with median time-to-diagnosis of 6 (1-12) mo after resection., Conclusions: Pancreatectomy for benign cysts did not negatively impact patients' perceived QOL. However, after long-term follow-up, malnutrition and pancreatic insufficiency occurred in a significant percentage and may be greater than previously estimated. Consideration of short- and long-term outcomes should factor into preoperative counseling, especially in cysts with minimal risk of progression to malignancy., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Aims: The cell block technique for assessing endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) specimens from pancreatic mucinous cystic lesions (MCLs) was systematically evaluated for the first time, including comparisons with three traditional methods of assessing such specimens., Methods: The prospective arm comprised EUS-FNA specimens from EUS-suspected pancreatic MCLs. The retrospective arm comprised EUS-FNA specimens from pancreatic MCLs surgically resected before the study start. For each specimen, these data points were collected: macroscopic likelihood of mucin, cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and presence of mucin in air-dried, direct smears and in cell block preparations., Results: The prospective and retrospective arms of the study comprised 80 and 30 EUS-FNA specimens, respectively. Seven prospective cases led to surgical resections during the study, and therefore, 37 EUS-FNA specimens were confirmed to have originated from MCLs. In the prospective arm, macroscopic mucin was suspected, cyst fluid CEA level exceeded 192 ng/mL, mucin was detected in direct smears and cell block preparations in 78%, 30%, 39% and 73% of cases, respectively. Of the 37 specimens confirmed to originate from MCLs, macroscopic mucin assessment, cyst fluid CEA level, direct smear mucin assessment and cell block mucin assessment had sensitivities for diagnosing MCL of 87%, 45%, 45% and 81%, respectively., Conclusions: Cell block preparations are as likely to identify mucin from pancreatic MCLs as macroscopic assessment but are twice as likely to diagnose MCL than direct smears and fluid CEA biochemistry. The cell block technique is easy for sample collection and processing especially because these are identical for solid and cystic pancreatic lesions., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Despite advances in imaging techniques, in many cases they are insufficient to establish the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). There are few publications in our setting that evaluate the combination of several methods obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the overall utility of EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of PCL., Material and Methods: Retrospective study based on a database updated prospectively of a cohort of patients referred for EUS-FNA due to PCL detected in an imaging test. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic yield of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytology and viscosity were studied to detect mucinous lesions., Results: From November 2013 to April 2018, 122 EUS were performed for PCL. EUS-FNA was performed in 94/122 (77%) and 21/122 (17.2%) patients were operated on. We included 33/122 patients who had diagnostic confirmation by histology, imaging (serous cyst with typical pattern) or clinical evolution. The study of the ROC curve determined the cutoff point ≥419 ng/ml to differentiate mucinous/non-mucinous cystic lesions. The diagnostic yield of CEA was 87.5% (21/24), cytology 81.8% (27/33) and viscosity 84.4% (27/32). The three parameters in combination obtained the best result (30/33, 90.9%)., Conclusion: The combination of CEA analysis, cytology and viscosity of pancreatic fluid obtained by EUS-FNA increases the performance in the diagnosis of mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions, with it being greater than 90%., (Copyright © 2019. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Recent advances and frequent use of cross-sectional imaging studies have increased opportunities for incidental diagnoses of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). In the management of PCL, distinguishing between mucinous versus non-mucinous and malignant versus benign cysts is important to diagnose pancreatic cancer in its early stage. For this reason, there have been several guidelines to manage PCL. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) play important roles in the guidelines, although there are some differences in their roles. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the current status of EUS and EUS-FNA in the management of PCL and the status of these procedures in the guidelines., (© 2019 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Background: The prevalence of undefined pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) is high in the general population, increasing with patient age. PCNs account for different biological entities with different potential for malignant transformation. The clinician must balance his or her practice between the risk of surgical overtreatment and the error of keeping a malignant lesion under surveillance., Methods: We review and discuss the clinical management of PCNs. Specifically, we analyze the main features of PCNs from the surgeon's point of view, as they present in the outpatient clinic. We also review the different consensus guidelines, address recent controversies in the literature, and present the current clinical practice at 4 different European Centers for pancreatic surgery., Results: The main features of PCNs were analyzed from the surgeon's point of view as they present in the outpatient clinic. All aspects of surgical management were discussed, from indications for surgery to intraoperative management and surveillance strategies., Conclusions: Management of PCNs requires a selective approach with the aim of minimizing clinically relevant diagnostic mistakes. Through the evaluation of clinical and radiological features of a PCN, the surgeon can elaborate on a diagnostic hypothesis and assess malignancy risk, but the final decision should be tailored to the individual patient's need., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Pancreatic cystic lesions are very prevalent, especially in elderly patients and are increasingly being diagnosed because of the massive use of cross sectional imaging. Our knowledge about the natural history of these lesions is limited, especially in the case of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. This fact explains why scientific societies guidelines statements are based on evidence graded as very low quality and helps the understanding of some of the different guidelines recommendations. Several guidelines have been recently revised to incorporate the new evidence published in the literature with the aim to help clinicians make the best decisions. American Gastroenterological Association guidelines, a revision of the International Consensus Guidelines, the American College of Gastroenterology and the European Study Group guidelines are the most recent. Herein we review the current guidelines on pancreatic cysts and focus our discussion on controversies and updates about the best imaging modalities, the indications for endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration, cyst fluid analysis, indications for resection and surveillance strategies.

Background: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms remain uncommon. Although data are accumulating on the incidence of pancreatic cystic neoplasms in the published literature, Indian data on these tumors are sparse., Material and Methods: We collated data from prospectively maintained databases of patients operated for cystic tumors of the pancreas from 2007 to 2016 at 7 academic centers across India to gain insights into clinical presentation and outcome of the operative treatment of these tumors. Data were compared with large series across the world to understand the regional differences in this pathology., Results: Of the 423 patients, there were 98 (23.2%) serous cystic neoplasms, 128 (30.2%) mucinous neoplasms, 34(8%) intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and 121 (28.6%) solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasms managed in these 7 academic centers. Malignancy (adenocarcinoma, malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma) was reported in 39 (9.2%) patients. Median age at presentation was 41 years, and the female-to-male ratio was 3.4:1. At presentation, 81% of patients were symptomatic. A total of 66.7% of lesions were located in body and tail region of the pancreas. Median tumor size was 6 cm. Operative resection with curative intent was performed in 405 of these 423 patients. Major morbidity occurred in 12%, and 30-day perioperative mortality was 0.9%. Laparoscopic resections were performed in 18% and spleen-preserving resections were performed in 3% of patients., Conclusion: Female preponderance, young age, and a benign nature of most pancreatic cystic neoplasms were observed. Large size of tumors on presentation, fewer intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm resections, and a much greater incidence of solid pseudopapillary epithelial neoplasms were distinctive of this study. Although the proportion of laparoscopic resections and splenic preservation was less compared with Western centers, the perioperative morbidity and mortality was on par with established standards., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Dr. Thompson is a consultant for Boston Scientific, Olympus, Medtronic, Apollo Endosurgery, and USGI Medical.All other authors have no conflict of interest.

Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) are extremely rare nonmalignant cysts of the pancreas. Asymptomatic LECs are managed conservatively, but symptomatic LECS have traditionally been managed with surgical resection. We report the first case of symptomatic infected LEC of the pancreas successfully managed with EUS guided endoscopic drainage with lumen-apposing metal stent. We also review the relevant literature and discuss the diagnosis and management of this rare cyst of the pancreas.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation (EUS-EA) for pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) has been used in recent years as a feasible treatment modality for low malignant probability PCLs or patients considered high-risk for surgery. The present study aimed to confirm the safety of EUS-EA and to find predictive factors for adverse event (AE)., Methods: A retrospective review was performed from the prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent EUS-EA for PCLs from June 2006 to April 2018 at Seoul National University Hospital. The primary outcomes of the study were the rates of AEs and severe AEs by EUS-EA. The secondary outcome was the predictive factors of AEs including acute pancreatitis and abdominal pain., Results: A total of 214 patients were evaluated and the diagnoses of PCLs according to cystic fluid analysis and clinical features were as follows: serous cystic neoplasm (32.2%), mucinous cystic neoplasm (26.6%), branch duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (BD-IPMN) (29.4%), and pseudocyst (11.7%). Three patients (1.4%) experienced severe AEs. Overall, AEs occurred in 71 (33.2%) patients. BD-IPMN (OR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.05-7.84; P = 0.040), multilocular cysts (OR: 3.59; 95% CI: 1.09-11.85; P = 0.036), suspected ethanol leakage during procedure (OR: 10.68; 95% CI: 1.98-57.53; P = 0.006), and sticky cystic fluid (OR: 3.83; 95% CI: 1.20-12.24; P = 0.024) were predictive factors for post-procedural acute pancreatitis. PCLs of uncinate process (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.22-7.35; P = 0.017) and PCLs with exophytic portion (OR: 3.70; 95% CI: 1.96-7.01; P < 0.001) were predictive factors for post-procedural abdominal pain., Conclusions: EUS-EA is a safe procedure with a very low rate of severe AEs. It seems possible to predict the AEs according to the features of the procedure and PCLs., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: To evaluate whether pancreatic parenchymal abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are associated with pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) on histology., Materials and Methods: Retrospective study approved by institutional review board. One hundred patients (48 men, 52 women; mean age, 53.2 ± 16.29 [SD]) underwent MRI before pancreatectomy for pancreatic tumors analyzed by two independent observers blinded to histopathological results for the presence of non-communicating microcysts and pancreatic atrophy (global or focal) beside tumors. MRI findings were compared to histopathological findings of resected specimens. Interobserver agreement was calculated. The association between parenchymal abnormalities and presence of PanIN was assessed by uni- and multivariate analyses., Results: PanIN was present in 65/100 patients (65%). The presence of microcysts on MRI had a sensitivity of 52.3% (34/65 [95%CI, 51.92-52.70%]), a specificity of 77.1% (27/35 [95%CI, 76.70-77.59]), and accuracy of 61% (61/100 95%CI [50.7-70.6]) for the diagnosis of PanIN while global atrophy had a sensitivity of 24.6% (16/6 [95%CI, 24.28-24.95]) and a specificity of 97.1% (34/35 [95%CI, 96.97-97.32%]). In multivariate analysis, the presence of microcysts (OR, 3.37 [95%CI, 1.3-8.76]) (p = 0.0127) and global atrophy (OR, 9.79 [95%CI, 1.21-79.129]) (p = 0.0324) were identified as independent predictors of the presence of PanIN. The combination of these two findings was observed in 10/65 PanIN patients and not in patients without PanIN (p = 0.013 with an OR of infinity [95%CI, 1.3-infinity]) and was not discriminant for PanIN-3 and lower grade (p = 0.22). Interobserver agreement for the presence of microcysts was excellent (kappa = 0.92), and for the presence of global atrophy, it was good (kappa = 0.73)., Conclusion: The presence of non-communicating microcysts on pre-operative MRI can be a significant predictor of PanIN in patients with pancreatic tumors., Key Points: • In patients with pancreatic tumors who had partial pancreatectomy, MR non-communicating pancreatic microcysts have a 52.3% sensitivity, a 77.1% specificity, and a 61% accuracy for the presence of PanIN with univariate and with an odds ratio of 3.37 with multivariate analyses. • The association of global atrophy and non-communicating microcysts increases the predictive risk of PanIN.

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) with worrisome features are surgically managed. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has recently been developed. The safety of EUS-RFA was the primary end point of this study, its efficacy the secondary end point., Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study that was planned to include 30 patients with a 1-year follow-up with either a NET < 2 cm or a pancreatic cystic neoplasm (PCN), either a branch duct IPMN with worrisome features or a mucinous cystadenoma (MCA). EUS-RFA was performed with an 18G RFA cooling needle., Results: 12 patients had 14 NETs (mean size 13.1 mm, range 10 - 20 mm); 17 patients had cystic tumors (16 IPMNs, 1 MCA; mean size 28 mm, range 9 - 60 mm). Overall three adverse events occurred (10 %), two of these in the first two patients (one pancreatitis, one small-bowel perforation). After these initial patients, modifications in the protocol resulted in a decrease in complications (3.5 %), with one patient having a pancreatic ductal stenosis. Among the 14 NETs, at 1-year follow-up 12 had completely disappeared (86 % tumor resolution), with three patients having a delayed response. Among the 17 PCNs, at 12 months, there were 11 complete disappearances and one diameter that decreased by > 50 % (significant response rate 71 %). All 12 mural nodules showed complete resolution., Conclusions: EUS-RFA of pancreatic NETs or PCNs is safe with a 10 % complication rate, which can be decreased by improved prophylaxis for the procedure., Competing Interests: Marc Barthet received a research grant from Boston Scientific (Endoscopic gastrojejunal anastomosis). Bertrand Napoleon is a consultant for Boston Scientific. All other authors have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest to declare., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Pancreatectomy for malignancy is associated with improved outcomes when performed at high-volume centers. The goal of this study was to assess pancreatectomy outcomes for premalignant cystic lesions as a function of hospital volume., Methods: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) was queried for all pancreatectomies performed in California from 2003 to 2011. Cases were stratified, separating benign versus malignant disease. Hospitals were categorized as low-volume (≤25 pancreatectomies/year; LV) or high-volume (>25; HV) centers. Perioperative morbidity, mortality, and length of stay were compared in HV vs. LV centers., Results: There were 7554 pancreatectomies performed in 201 hospitals during the study period, where 5652 (75%) procedures were performed for malignancy, 338 (4%) for chronic pancreatitis, and 1564 (21%) for benign/premalignant cysts. The majority of pancreatectomies for cystic disease were performed at LV centers (65%). There were no significant differences in length of stay (7 vs. 8 days; p = 0.6) or 90-day readmission rates (12.8% vs. 12.9%; p = 1.0) in HV versus LV centers. However, there were higher surgical (46.2% LV vs. 41.1% HV, p = 0.05) and medical (13.3% LV vs. 9.2% HV; p = 0.017) complications at LV centers. Most importantly, there was a fourfold higher in-hospital mortality at LV centers (2.36% vs. 0.55%; p = 0.007)., Conclusion: Pancreatic resection for benign lesions at HV hospitals is associated with significantly lower morbidity and mortality, suggesting that when feasible, patients should seek care at high-volume centers for these semi-elective surgeries.

Background & Aims: Although pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are frequently and incidentally detected, it is a challenge to determine their risk of malignancy. In immunohistochemical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses of tissue and cyst fluid from pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, the monoclonal antibody Das-1 identifies those at risk for malignancy with high levels of specificity and sensitivity. We aimed to validate the ability of Das-1 to identify high-risk PCLs in comparison to clinical guidelines and clinical features, using samples from a multicenter cohort., Methods: We obtained cyst fluid samples of 169 PCLs (90 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 43 mucinous cystic neoplasms, and 36 non-mucinous cysts) from patients undergoing surgery at 4 tertiary referral centers (January 2010 through June 2017). Histology findings from surgical samples, analyzed independently and centrally re-reviewed in a blinded manner, were used as the reference standard. High-risk PCLs were those with invasive carcinomas, high-grade dysplasia, or intestinal-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms with intermediate-grade dysplasia. An ELISA with Das-1 was performed in parallel using banked cyst fluid samples. We evaluated the biomarker's performance, generated area under the curve values, and conducted multivariate logistic regression using clinical and pathology features., Results: The ELISA for Das-1 identified high-risk PCLs with 88% sensitivity, 99% specificity, and 95% accuracy, at a cutoff optical density value of 0.104. In 10-fold cross-validation analysis with 100 replications, Das-1 identified high-risk PCLs with 88% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The Sendai, Fukuoka, and American Gastroenterological Association guideline criteria identified high-risk PCLs with 46%, 52%, and 74% accuracy (P for comparison to Das-1 ELISA <.001). When we controlled for Das-1 in multivariate regression, main pancreatic duct dilation >5 mm (odds ratio, 14.98; 95% confidence interval, 2.63-108; P < .0012), main pancreatic duct dilation ≥1 cm (odds ratio, 47.9; 95% confidence interval, 6.39-490; P < .0001), and jaundice (odds ratio, 6.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-36.7; P = .0397) were significantly associated with high-risk PCLs., Conclusions: We validated the ability of an ELISA with the monoclonal antibody Das-1 to detect PCLs at risk for malignancy with high levels of sensitivity and specificity. This biomarker might be used in conjunction with clinical guidelines to identify patients at risk for malignancy., (Copyright © 2019 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Mucinous nonneoplastic cyst of the pancreas is a rare disease defined as a cystic lesion lined with mucinous epithelium, supported by hypocellular stroma and not communicating with the pancreatic ducts. Mucinous nonneoplastic cyst of the pancreas has no malignant potential and does not require surgical resection or surveillance. However, its preoperative differentiation from other cystic lesions of the pancreas is difficult because of several overlapping clinical, radiological, and biochemical features. We report a rare case of large mucinous nonneoplastic cyst of the pancreas in which surgery was required due to infection and the possibility of malignancy., Case Presentation: A 75-year-old Japanese man was found to have a pancreatic cyst in 2006 while undergoing postoperative evaluation for colon cancer. In 2015, the cyst ruptured, and it was treated conservatively. In 2017, he fell down on a road with a fever of 40 °C and was transported emergently to a nearby hospital. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a cystic lesion in the body of the pancreas measuring 119 mm × 100 mm and an adjacent left renal cyst measuring 63 mm in diameter. The wall of the pancreatic cyst was thickened. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a liquid surface in the pancreatic cyst. Pancreatic cyst infection was diagnosed as the source of infection. However, identification of the organism was difficult. Furthermore, due to the increase in the size and wall thickness of the cyst, it was unclear whether the cystic mass was neoplastic with malignant potential. For these reasons, the patient underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy with deroofing of the left renal cyst. Intraoperatively, the pancreatic cyst adhered to the descending colon, and partial resection of the colon was added. Pathologic analysis of the resected cyst demonstrated a simple cyst lined by mucinous epithelium. There was no underlying stromal condensation or epithelial dysplasia, and communication with the native pancreatic ducts was not observed. Based on the operative and histological findings, a final diagnosis of mucinous nonneoplastic cyst of the pancreas with colonic communication was made. The colonic fistula was presumed to be the source of infection., Conclusion: Mucinous nonneoplastic cyst of the pancreas is generally benign and requires little follow-up, but large cysts may penetrate other organs and cause severe complications.

Pancreatic cysts are common and often pose a management dilemma, because some cysts are precancerous, whereas others have little risk of developing into invasive cancers. We used supervised machine learning techniques to develop a comprehensive test, CompCyst, to guide the management of patients with pancreatic cysts. The test is based on selected clinical features, imaging characteristics, and cyst fluid genetic and biochemical markers. Using data from 436 patients with pancreatic cysts, we trained CompCyst to classify patients as those who required surgery, those who should be routinely monitored, and those who did not require further surveillance. We then tested CompCyst in an independent cohort of 426 patients, with histopathology used as the gold standard. We found that clinical management informed by the CompCyst test was more accurate than the management dictated by conventional clinical and imaging criteria alone. Application of the CompCyst test would have spared surgery in more than half of the patients who underwent unnecessary resection of their cysts. CompCyst therefore has the potential to reduce the patient morbidity and economic costs associated with current standard-of-care pancreatic cyst management practices., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.)

CASE DESCRIPTION A 15-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was examined because of a 1-year history of daily vomiting, which was not associated with food intake. CLINICAL FINDINGS Initial physical examination findings and serial hematologic and serum biochemical results were unremarkable except for the presence of a grade 2/6 left-sided heart murmur and persistent mild azotemia. A well-defined multilobulated cystic structure located between the spleen and left kidney was identified by abdominal ultrasonography. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Laparoscopic exploration revealed that the cystic structure originated from the left pancreatic limb. With laparoscopic guidance, the structure was percutaneously drained and underwent omentalization. Then, a partial cystectomy was performed to obtain a tissue specimen for histologic evaluation. The vomiting resolved for a short period immediately after surgery and then gradually resumed over 6 months, albeit with less frequency than prior to surgery. The histologic diagnosis was pancreatic cyst. Abdominal ultrasonography performed 6 months after surgery revealed that the original cyst had completely resolved but multiple smaller cysts had developed. The serum feline pancreas-specific lipase activity was not measured before surgery but remained increased from the reference limit following surgery, and chronic pancreatitis was considered the most likely cause of pancreatic cyst formation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Laparoscopic-guided drainage and omentalization of a large pancreatic cyst resulted in a satisfactory outcome for the cat of this report and can be considered an alternative to percutaneous ultrasound-guided cyst drainage and the more invasive laparotomy approach for pancreatic cystectomy with or without omentalization.

Rationale: Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are pancreatic mucin-producing cystic lesions with a distinctive ovarian-type stroma. The diagnosis is generally easy in typical cases; however, differential diagnosis is difficult in others such as in the case we report herein., Patient Concerns: A 27-year-old woman with sudden onset of epigastric pain was referred to our hospital for suspected acute pancreatitis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a 25-mm cystic lesion in the pancreas and a low density area with delayed enhancement at the right upper side of the cystic lesion., Diagnoses: During its clinical course, the cystic lesion underwent various morphological changes. Eventually, it presented typical findings of MCNs, and could be accurately diagnosed., Interventions: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was performed on the patient by preserving the spleen., Outcomes: The patient revealed no symptoms till 1 year after the operation., Lessons: This case of MCN with intriguing short-term morphological changes was associated with recurrent pancreatitis. A combination of imaging modalities is essential for accurate diagnosis of MCNs, and follow-up with serial imaging might be useful for certain unusual lesions.

Background: The purpose was to investigate the difference of detection rate of incidental pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to compare the difference between CT and MRI and to explore the effect of this difference on surgical resection., Methods: We reviewed the diagnostic reports for incidental PCLs between 2013 and 2016. Images of PCLs would be re-evaluated. Clinical and imaging data were recorded. The chi-square and independent t-test were conducted for categorical and continuous variables., Results: The prevalence of PCLs was 1.91% (1038/54210) and 3.36% (1282/38099) on CT and MRI respectively, and increased with increasing age (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the annual prevalence of PCLs on CT (P = 0.796) and MRI (P = 0.213) from 2013 to 2016 while the number of examinations was increasing every year. The annual detection rate of MRI for small PCLs (< 20 mm) was significantly higher than CT (P < 0.001), but was not significantly different for large PCLs (≥20 mm). The rate of surgical resection of PCLs (≥20 mm) in MRI group was higher than CT (55.2% vs. 37.0%, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: The detection rate of PCLs on CT and MRI tended to be stable despite increasing scan volumes. Female had a slightly more frequency of PCLs than male. MRI detected more small PCLs(< 20 mm) and had higher impact on surgical resection of large PCL(≥20 mm) compared with CT.

This report outlines a rare case of juxtapancreatic duplication cyst in a 5-month-old infant who presented with peritonitis, secondary to traumatic perforation of the cyst. We aim to highlight the role of selective mucosectomy in these cases., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: For pancreatic cysts with negative cytology, Integrated Molecular Pathology (IMP) is a malignancy risk score integrating clinical criteria with pancreatic cyst fluid DNA profiling. Aside from main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter, integrated clinical criteria are not International Consensus Guidelines High-Risk Stigmata. We predicted exclusion of clinical criteria except MPD diameter could simplify the IMP and better distinguish invasive/malignant disease., Methods: Records of >1100 patients with IPMN were reviewed retrospectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of conventional IMP for invasive/malignant disease was compared to DNA profile including only MPD ≥10mm (IMP-10.) Invasive outcomes were invasive-IPMN/adenocarcinoma on surgical pathology, pathologic or radiographic evidence of invasive/metastatic disease during surveillance. Malignant outcomes included high grade dysplastic IPMN (HGD-IPMN)., Results: 225 patients who met study criteria underwent 283 IMP evaluations: 98 followed by surgery, 185 followed by ≥ 23 months surveillance. IMP-10 had greater specificity (90.1% vs. 73.7%) and accuracy (89.8% vs. 74.2%) for invasive disease compared to IMP in surgery + surveillance patients, but lower sensitivity (77.8% vs. 88.9%). Trends were similar in surgery patients alone and malignant outcome analyses., Conclusion: IMP-10 excludes less-reliable clinical factors resulting in greater accuracy in predicting invasive/malignant disease and fewer patients with benign disease being recommended for surgery., (Copyright © 2018 International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this systematic review is to assess the role of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the preoperative evaluation of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and cystic lesions of the pancreas., Methods: A computerized PubMed search was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify studies evaluating positron emission tomography in the preoperative evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions., Results: A total of 14 studies evaluated the role of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/positron emission tomography-computed tomography, 9 of which evaluated only intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and 5 evaluated all pancreatic cystic lesions, including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. Pooled analysis was carried out for studies evaluating intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms only and studies evaluating all cystic lesions. Imaging with 18-fluorodeoxyblucose positron emission tomography had a positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 90%, 91%, 85%, 95%, and 91% in identifying malignancy (defined as either invasive and/or high-grade dysplasia) in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and a positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 85%, 81%, 79%, 86%, and 88% in identifying malignancy in other cystic lesions. Pooled analysis reported the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Sendai consensus guidelines (SCG) criteria as 69%, 69%, 68%, 55%, and 58%. The Fukuoka consensus guidelines (FCG) only had sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy reported as 61%, 52%, and 52%, respectively., Conclusion: The 18-fluorodeoxyblucose positron emission tomography had a high degree of accuracy of detecting malignancy in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and cystic lesion of the pancreas. Comparison of the utility of positron emission tomography with the Fukuoka consensus guidelines and the Sendai consensus guidelines suggest that positron emission tomography is superior to present guidelines in detecting malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and cystic lesion of the pancreas. Further studies in larger patient cohorts may be required to corroborate these findings and to determine the place of positron emission tomography in the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and cystic lesions of the pancreas., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pancreatic cysts include a variety of benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions. Endometrial cysts in the pancreas are extremely rare lesions that are difficult to diagnose before surgery. We report the case of a 26-year-old patient with a recent episode of left abdominal pain who presented with a large cyst in the pancreatic body. Laboratory results showed white blood cell and C-reactive protein elevation, whereas the patient's tumor marker levels were within the normal range. Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. The final histopathological examination confirmed the presence of endometriotic cysts within the pancreas. Only 13 cases of endometriotic cysts of the pancreas have been previously reported. The preoperative diagnosis is challenging, and most patients undergo pancreatic resection because of suspected neoplasms. This case report reviews previous studies and discusses the clinicopathological features, pathogenesis, and appropriate treatment for pancreatic endometrial cysts.

A 55-yr-old woman presented with abdominal bloating for approximately 1 year. Imaging studies showed a cyst in the body of the pancreas with proximal pancreatic ductal dilation. An endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was performed. Cytologic findings from the cyst fluid were consistent with a mucinous neoplastic cyst, and the possibility of malignancy could not be entirely excluded. A KRAS mutation analysis was performed on the cyst fluid using the Idylla system and circulating tumor KRAS (ctKRAS) cartridge (Biocartis, Mechelen, Belgium), which tests for actionable mutations in exons 2, 3, and 4 of the KRAS gene. Idylla testing detected a KRAS G12D mutation in the cyst fluid. The patient subsequently underwent a distal subtotal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. Microscopic examination of the resected tissue revealed an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with an associated invasive carcinoma. KRAS testing on the resected tumor tissue confirmed the G12D mutation detected in the cyst fluid earlier. The described rapid testing of KRAS directly from the pancreatic cyst fluid can complement cytology assessment to classify pancreatic cysts more reliably and can potentially be of significant help when other cyst findings are nondiagnostic., (© 2019 Al-Turkmani et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.)

Background: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) are being found increasingly in imaging studies. Even though the characteristics of PCN lesions have been studied extensively in single and multicentre settings, nationwide data is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the nationwide epidemiologic characteristics and long-term survival of all resected PCNs., Methods: For this retrospective cohort analysis, all PCNs operated on in Finland during the period 2000-2008 were identified. Data was collected from all patients: on demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, radiological findings, surgical procedures, complications, histopathological diagnoses and survival. Incomplete pathology reports and any uncertain diagnoses were re-assessed. Survival data was collected after a five-year follow-up period., Results: The final database included 225 patients with operated PCN. After reviewing the incomplete pathology reports, in 44 cases the original diagnosis was changed, mostly from MCN to IPMN. The most common histopathological diagnoses were IPMN (94/225; 50/225 MD-IPMN, 30/225 MX-IPMN and 14/225 BD-IPMN), SCN (41/225) and MCN (40/225). Overall, 53/225 (23.6%) of the tumours were malignant. Malignancy was detected in MD-IPMN 29/50 (58%), MX-IPMN 10/30 (33.3%), MCN 12/40 (30%), BD-IPMN 2/14 (14.3%) patients. Median 5-year survival for all patients was 77%: 87% in patients without malignancy, 77% with HGD and 27% in patients with a malignant resected PCN., Conclusion: One fourth of the PCNs operated on nationwide were malignant, with a five-year survival of 27%, compared to overall survival of 87% in patients with non-malignant disease and 77% in those with HGD. Detecting - and operating on - a PCN before the malignant transfer remains a great challenge., (Copyright © 2019 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The growing incidence of cystic pancreatic tumours has become a major problem in daily clinical practice. These patients usually undergo follow-up programmes of questionable clinical efficacy that put significant strain on endoscopy units. Safe and effective alternatives to surgery are desperately needed in these cases. The aim of this study was to critically review the utility of ablative therapies in cystic pancreatic tumours., (Copyright © 2018. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Objective: To present the results of surgical treatment of patients with mediastinalpancreatogeniccysts (MPC)., Material and Methods: There were 5 patients with MPC., Results: Laboratory tests revealed increased blood amylase level by 1.5-2 times in 3 cases, urine diastase by 4-5 times - in 2 cases. Pleural effusion with amylase concentration in the fluid from 5680 to 48 640 units was diagnosed in 4 cases. CT data of preudocysts of pancreatic body and tail were obtained in 3 cases, head and body - in 2 patients. These cysts extended to posterior mediastinum through the hiatal orifice for about 3.5-40 cm. Three patients underwent VATS removal of pleural fragments, one - thoracotomy, lung decortication and MPC drainage through pleural cavity. Three patients underwent pancreatic drainage procedures (cystogastrostomy, pancreaticojejunostomy and external drainage of the cyst). A small pseudocyst has been successfully treated by conservative treatment with octreotide., Conclusion: MPC is a rare complication of pancreatitis and often associated with pleural effusion. CT and fluid amylase analysis are the main diagnostic measures. Surgical treatment includes VATS, destruction of pleural fragments and pleural drainage, cystogastrostomy, pancreaticojejunostomy or external drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst.

Pancreatic cysts are common and are incidentally detected in up to 13.5% of individuals. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) are precursors to pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Most will never develop into pancreatic cancer. Several types of pancreatic cysts have no malignant potential. Solid tumors can present as a pancreatic cysts. Guidelines recommend surveillance. Management includes differentiating IPMNs and MCNs from other types, identifying those at highest risk of harboring pancreatic cancer or high-grade dysplasia, and referral to a multidisciplinary group for evaluation and consideration of surgical resection., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic cyst ablation with alcohol lavage or paclitaxel-based regimens are investigative modalities. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of EUS-guided pancreatic cyst ablation with alcohol lavage or paclitaxel-based regimens. A systematic review of computerized bibliographic databases was carried out for studies of EUS-guided pancreatic cyst ablation with alcohol lavage or paclitaxel-based regimens from January 1980 to February 2018. EUS-guided cyst ablation-related outcomes (cyst resolution) and complications. Data were extracted from six studies (N=207 patients) for EUS-guided cyst ablation with alcohol lavage and eight studies (N=347 patients) for EUS-guided cyst ablation with paclitaxel-based regimens. The pooled proportion of patients with complete cyst resolution was 68/207 (32.8%) for EUS-guided cyst ablation with alcohol lavage and 221/347 (63.6%) for EUS-guided cyst ablation with paclitaxel. Postablation adverse events with EUS-guided ablation with alcohol lavage were 44/207 (21.7%), and those with EUS-guided ablation with paclitaxel-based regimens were 52/347 (15%). Limitations of this study are because of the variability in study design and regimens tested, paucity of randomized trials, and differences in pancreatic cyst types receiving treatment. EUS-guided cyst ablation appears to be effective and safe. The effect on pancreatic cancer incidence is unknown; EUS-guided pancreatic cyst ablation modalities require further improvement and validation to determine their role in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cystic lesions.

Objective: DNA-based testing of pancreatic cyst fluid (PCF) is a useful adjunct to the evaluation of pancreatic cysts (PCs). Mutations in KRAS / GNAS are highly specific for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs), while TP53 / PIK3CA / PTEN alterations are associated with advanced neoplasia. A prospective study was performed to evaluate preoperative PCF DNA testing., Design: Over 43-months, 626 PCF specimens from 595 patients were obtained by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-fine needle aspiration and assessed by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Molecular results were correlated with EUS findings, ancillary studies and follow-up. A separate cohort of 159 PCF specimens was also evaluated for KRAS / GNAS mutations by Sanger sequencing., Results: KRAS/GNAS mutations were identified in 308 (49%) PCs, while alterations in TP53/PIK3CA/PTEN were present in 35 (6%) cases. Based on 102 (17%) patients with surgical follow-up, KRAS/GNAS mutations were detected in 56 (100%) IPMNs and 3 (30%) MCNs, and associated with 89% sensitivity and 100% specificity for a mucinous PC. In comparison, KRAS/GNAS mutations by Sanger sequencing had a 65% sensitivity and 100% specificity. By NGS, the combination of KRAS/GNAS mutations and alterations in TP53/PIK3CA/PTEN had an 89% sensitivity and 100% specificity for advanced neoplasia. Ductal dilatation, a mural nodule and malignant cytopathology had lower sensitivities (42%, 32% and 32%, respectively) and specificities (74%, 94% and 98%, respectively)., Conclusions: In contrast to Sanger sequencing, preoperative NGS of PCF for KRAS / GNAS mutations is highly sensitive for IPMNs and specific for mucinous PCs. In addition, the combination of TP53 / PIK3CA / PTEN alterations is a useful preoperative marker for advanced neoplasia., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Endoscopy has emerged as a mainstay in the management of pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs), representing an important advance in clinical medicine that has significantly improved the risk-benefit ratio of treating this complex patient population. While endoscopic pseudocyst drainage has generally supplanted surgical and percutaneous approaches, the optimal strategy for walled-off necrosis remains variable and multi-disciplinary despite an emerging trend from randomized trials favoring endoscopy. Although several issues pertaining to endoscopic drainage appear to have been settled - such as the use of endoscopic ultrasound - other pressing questions - including the optimal prosthesis and debridement strategy - remain unanswered, and rigorous investigation is needed. This review aims to provide an evidence-based but practical appraisal of the endoscopic drainage of PFCs through the perspective of the author, with an emphasis on relevant clinical and endoscopic considerations and important research questions., (Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We evaluated the usefulness of fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green to identify pancreas tumors in 23 patients undergoing pancreas resection. This technique was useful in visualizing pancreas lesions during surgery, specifically, neuroendocrine tumors as fluorescence and cystic neoplasms as a fluorescence defect., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Since the original description of pancreatic fluid collections (PFC) in 1761 by Morgagni, their diagnosis, description, and management have continued to evolve. The mainstay of therapy for symptomatic PFCs has been the creation of a communication between a PFC and the stomach, to enable drainage. Surgical creation of these drainage conduits had been the gold standard of therapy; however, there has been a paradigm shift in recent years with an increasing role of endoscopic drainage. The techniques of endoscopic drainage have evolved from blind fluid aspiration to include endoscopic necrosectomy and the placement of lumen-apposing metal stents., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: With recent advances in radiographic testing, there have been increases in the incidental identification of pancreatic cysts. Determining management, specifically, which cysts can be watched versus intervened upon has significant impact on at the patient-physician level as well as globally on resource allocation and healthcare expenditures. This review focuses on the three main guidelines (Fukuoka guidelines, European consensus, and American Gastroenterological Association recommendations) for management of pancreatic cystic disease after incidental identification., Recent Findings: There are iterant revisions to each set of recommendations every few years as new data is published on the subject. This review encompasses the most up-to-date recommendations for management while also providing a framework for conceptualizing work-up for varying types of pancreatic cystic disease before and after incidental identification., Summary: Pancreatic cystic disease should be approached in thoughtful clinical manner, and each cyst should be evaluated in the context of patient's health and healthcare goals. All cysts, however, should be considered malignant until proven otherwise. Applications of different diagnostic modalities like MRI and EUS with FNA can better characterize cystic lesions and assess malignant potential. Resection should always be considered in cysts with concerning features. If deferred, surveillance should be continued indefinitely. Early termination of surveillance risks future malignant progression.

Endoscopic ultrasound is increasingly being used for evaluation of pancreatic diseases and pancreatic tumors. Among various pancreatic cystic lesions, cystic degeneration of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm is of the challenge in making diagnosis. Although unique characteristic of each type of pancreatic cystic lesions has been proposed abundantly, typical morphology of cystic degeneration of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm is still unclear. We, herein, reported a case of 66-year-old woman who was incidentally found to have a cystic lesion in the tail of pancreas upon screening transabdominal ultrasonography. A well-defined cystic lesion with rim calcification was noted on subsequent abdominal computed tomography. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a markedly thick-wall cystic lesion containing solid nodule inside which was not enhanced following contrast-enhanced study. A mucinous cystic neoplasm was suspected and the patient was proceeded with distal pancreatectomy. A definite diagnosis of neuroendocrine neoplasm was confirmed after staining with synaptophysin and chromogranin A. We performed a meticulous review on current literatures focusing on endoscopic characteristics of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms with cystic degeneration.