Cystic Lesions of the Pancreas

Opinion statement Pancreatic cystadenomas are a group of benign, premalignant, and malignant cystic tumors of the pancreas. Serous cystadenomas are benign lesions that often do not require surgical excision unless they are complicated by bleeding, obstruction, or pain. Mucinous cystadenomas are premalignant lesions that may be surgically excised if there is a concern regarding malignant degeneration. However, it may be difficult to predict the timing and risk of malignant change. Also, it is controversial whether all mucinous cystadenomas should be resected. Cystadenocarcinomas should be surgically managed if they are resectable, that is, there is no evidence of metastatic disease. Intraductal papillary mucinous tumors share many features with mucinous cystadenomas. However, intraductal papillary mucinous tumors arise from the pancreatic duct and are often associated with a dilated pancreatic duct. These lesions are often managed with surgical resection, including total pancreatectomy for diffuse lesions with evidence of localized malignancy.     

Ectopic Pancreas: A Diagnostic Dilemma

An ectopic pancreas is defined as pancreatic tissue lacking vascular or anatomic communication with the normal body of the pancreas. It is rarely symptomatic as it is found incidentally at laparotomy most of the time. Despite advances in diagnostic modalities, it still remains a challenge to the clinician to differentiate it from a neoplasm. It is prudent to differentiate it from neoplastic etiologies, as simple surgical excision can potentially be curative. We discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of an interesting case of ectopic pancreas presenting as a gastric antral tumor.     

Long-Term Outcome of Cystic Lesions in the Pancreas: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background/Aims

The management guidelines for cystic lesions of the pancreas (CLPs) are not yet well established. This study was performed to document the long-term clinical outcome of CLPs and provide guidelines for the management and surveillance of CLPs.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, an additional follow-up was performed in 112 patients with CLPs enrolled from 1998 to 2004 during a previous study.

Results

During follow-up for the median period of 72.3 months, the size of the CLPs increased in 18 patients (16.1%). Six of these patients experienced growth of their CLPs after 5 years of follow-up. Twenty-six patients underwent surgery during follow-up, and four malignant cysts were detected. The overall rate of malignant progression during follow-up was 3.6%. The presence of mural nodules or solid components was independently associated with the presence of malignant CLPs. Seven patients underwent surgery after 5 years of follow-up. The pathologic findings revealed malignancies in two patients. There was only one pancreas-related death during follow-up.

Conclusions

The majority of CLPs exhibit indolent behavior and are associated with a favorable prognosis. However, long-term surveillance for more than 5 years should be performed because of the potential for growth and malignant transformation in CLPs.     

Outcomes of Cystic Lesions in the Pancreas After Extended Follow-up

Incidental pancreatic cysts are frequently detected, but no appropriate management guidelines have been issued for their management because their natural history is relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate their long-term clinical outcomes. Pancreatic cysts detected from 1998 to 2004 were retrospectively reviewed in patients followed up for more than 3 months. A total of 182 patients with incidental pancreatic cysts (initial mean size, 1.8±1.1 cm) underwent follow-up for an average of 35.4 months. An age≥60 years was found to be associated with an increase in cyst size, with an odds ratio of 2.56. Two malignant cysts were found among 20 patients who underwent surgical resection during follow-up. Old age was also associated with the presence of a premalignant or malignant cyst (P<0.01). Although the majority of incidental pancreatic cysts show an indolent behavior, long-term, regular follow-up studies should be considered for all pancreatic cysts, especially in the elderly.     

Pulsating Suprasternal Lump: A Diagnostic and Management Dilemma

We report a 70-year-old female who complained of shortness of breath and a pulsating suprasternal lump. CT scan showed innominate artery dilatation. In addition, operative exposure showed tortuous arteries and a common origin of the left common carotid and innominate arteries. Surgical correction by innominate artery division and reimplantation at the ascending aorta was performed, and the patient’s symptoms completely disappeared after the procedure.     

Patient- and Cyst-Related Factors for Improved Prediction of Malignancy within Cystic Lesions of the Pancreas

Background and Aims: Early diagnosis of cancer in pancreatic cysts is important for timely referral to surgery. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for pancreatic cyst malignancy to improve patient selection for surgical resection. Methods: We performed retrospective analyses of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and pathology databases identifying pancreatic cysts with available final pathological diagnoses. Main-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) were excluded due to the clear indication for surgery. Patient demographics and symptoms, cyst morphology, and cyst fluid characteristics were studied as candidate riskfactors for malignancy. Results: 270 patients with pancreatic cysts were identified and analyzed (41% men, mean age 61.8 years). Final pathological diagnoses were branch-duct IPMN (n = 118, 50% malignant), serous cystadenoma (n = 71), pseudocyst (n = 37), mucinous cyst adenoma/adenocarcinoma (n = 36), islet cell tumor (n = 4), simple cyst (n = 3), and ductal adenocarcinoma with cystic degeneration (n = 1). Optimal cut-off points for surgical resection were cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ≥3,594 ng/ml, age >50, and cyst size >1.5 cm. Cyst malignancy was independently associated with white race (OR = 4.1, p = 0.002), weight loss (OR = 3.9, p = 0.001), cyst size >1.5 cm (OR = 2.4, p = 0.012), and high CEA >3,594 (OR = 5.3, p = 0.04). In white patients >50 years old presenting with weight loss and cyst size >1.5 cm, the likelihood of malignancy was nearly sixfold greater than in those patients who had none of these factors (OR = 5.8,95% CI = 2.1-16.1, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Riskfactors other than cyst size are important for determination of malignancy in pancreatic cysts. Exceptionally high cyst fluid CEA levels and certain patient-related factors may help to better predict cyst malignancy and the need for surgical treatment.     

内镜超声引导下穿刺活检术在胰腺囊性病变中的 诊断价值

胰腺囊性病变同时包含良性和恶性,性质不同,预后截然不同。内镜超声引导下细针活检术(endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy,EUS-FNB)因其能够直接获取目标病变的囊液、细胞或组织辅助诊断而倍受青睐。本文对EUS-FNB在胰腺囊性病变诊断中的应用做一综述,大部分研究结果认为EUS-FNB获取病变组织标本进行诊断的能力优于内镜超声引导下细针抽吸术,而新近出现的内镜超声引导下小活检钳活检术亦被证实在病变组织标本及诊断价值方面有其独特的优势。     

Comparison of Endoscopic Ultrasonography,Computed Tomography,and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Pancreas Cystic Lesions

Consensus regarding which modality is optimal for the measurement of pancreas cystic lesions (PCLs) was not achieved although cyst size is important for clinical decisions. This study aimed to evaluate the properties of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) compared with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in measuring the size of PCL.A total of 34 patients who underwent all 3 imaging modalities within 3 months before surgery were evaluated retrospectively. The size measured by each modality was compared with the pathologic size as a reference standard using Bland–Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).The mean size difference was 1.76 mm (ICC 0.86), 7.35 mm (ICC 0.95), and 8.65 mm (ICC 0.93) in EUS, CT, and MRI. EUS had the widest range of 95% limits of agreement (LOA) (−17.54 to +21.07), compared with CT (−6.21 to +20.91), and MRI (−6.82 to +24.12). The size by EUS tended to be read smaller in tail portion, while those by CT and MRI did not. When the size was more than 4 cm, the size on EUS was estimated to be smaller than on pathology (r = 0.492; P = 0.003).Although 3 modalities showed very good reliability for the size measurement on PCL compared with corresponding pathologic size, EUS had the lowest level of agreement, while CT showed the highest level among the 3 modalities. Therefore, the size estimated by EUS has to be interpreted with caution, especially when it is located in tail and relevantly large.     

A Case of Malignant Cystic Endocrine Tumor of the Pancreas

A malignant pancreatic endocrine tumor with a cystic appearance in a 66-yr-old woman was reported. Total pancreatectomy was performed under the diagnosis of cystadenocarcinoma. The tumor was large and cystic, but the solid portion of the tumor showed histologically a ribbon-like array of small uniform cells typical for endocrine tumors. Immunohistochemically, most tumor cells were immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin, and Leu 7-epitope. Ultrastructurally, innumerable neurosecretory granules were demonstrated in the cytoplasm of most tumor cells. The patient survived for 5.5 yr after operation despite liver metastases, some of which also showed cystic appearances.     

Pancreas and Cystic Fibrosis: The Implications of Increased Survival in Cystic Fibrosis

Pancreatitis affects 0.5% people with cystic fibrosis (CF) in the UK and 0.01% of the normal population. Why do some with CF get pancreatitis and some not? And does pancreatitis in neonates result in pancreatic failure with no further inflammation or risk of pancreatic cancer? Review of the literature would suggest that 85% of those with CF have pancreatic destruction as children with minimal risk of further inflammatory or neoplastic changes. Those with a functioning pancreas are at risk of developing pancreatitis. There are several case series of pancreatic cancer reported in CF patients, but overall the risk is unknown. As patients with CF and pancreatic sufficiency are living longer, further studies to assess the riskof developing pancreatic cancer in this subgroup should be considered.     

Factors Determining Diagnostic Yield of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration for Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: A Multicentre Asian Study

Background and Aim

The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the diagnostic yield for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in patients with pancreatic cystic lesions, (2) additional value of EUS-FNA over EUS alone in the diagnosis of pancreatic cysts, and (3) diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of EUS and EUS-FNA in the subset of patients where histopathology of surgical specimens were available.

Methods

All patients who underwent EUS examination for the evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions in six Asian centres were included in the study.

Results

Of 298 patients with pancreatic cysts who underwent EUS, 132 (44.3 %) underwent FNA. In the entire cohort, pseudocysts and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) were the predominant cystic lesions. The cytologic yield of EUS-FNA was 47 %. On univariate analysis, factors associated with higher cytologic yield included vascular involvement on EUS, presence of solid cystic component, and increased number of needle passes during EUS-FNA. On multivariate analysis, presence of solid cystic components and increased number of needle passes during EUS-FNA were associated with higher diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA. For pancreatic cysts with a solid component, the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA increased significantly from 44 % with one pass to 78 % with more than one pass (p = 0.016). In the absence of a solid component, the diagnostic yield was 29 % with one pass and was not significantly different from the diagnostic yield of 50 % with more than one pass, p = 0.081.

Conclusion

The cytologic yield of EUS-FNA was 47 %. When a solid component was present in the cyst, doing more than one pass during EUS-FNA increased its diagnostic yield.     

Pediatric Intracardiac Thrombus: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma

This case highlights the challenges in treating children with intracardiac thrombosis. We describe a teenager who developed an unsuspected de novo intracardiac thrombus. She was treated initially medically and surgically, but required subsequent surgery to treat a life‐threatening recurrence. This case demonstrates an unusual presentation, as well as imaging, diagnostic, and therapeutic dilemmas. More significantly, it emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for successful treatment of intracardiac thrombus.