Pancreatogram findings for carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the pancreas seen on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and postoperative pancreatography of resected specimens: can CIS be diagnosed preoperatively?

Background/aims: From 1992 to 2003, 7 carcinomata in situ (CIS) were incidentally discovered during microscopical observation of resected materials for advanced carcinomas of peripancreatic organs, of which 4 had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or postoperative pancreatography of the resected specimen (POP). In addition, 7 of 79 invasive ductal carcinomata (IDC) of the pancreas were accompanied by CIS > or =2 cm long. A total of 11 patients were reviewed here for pancreatographic findings for CIS of the pancreas.
Methods: All resected pancreatobiliary materials were sliced serially at 5- to 8-mm intervals in a plane at right angles to the main pancreatic duct, referring to POP images.
Results: Irregularity (I), non-continuous narrowing (N), granular defects (G), and dilatation (D) were seen in 78, 67, 33 and 22% on ERCP, respectively, and in 90, 70, 60 and 40% on POP, respectively.
Conclusions: I, N, G, and D are most important pancreatographic findings in ERCP and highly suggestive of CIS of the pancreas, so that whenever they are encountered, cytological and/or pathological examination of the pancreatic duct should be actively performed.
(Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.)