Asymptomatic Neoplastic Pancreatic Cysts

Publication Date: April 1, 2015

Key Points

Key Points

Pancreatic cysts are common and increase with age, but the development of invasive adenocarcinoma in these cysts is extremely rare.

The incidental identification of pancreatic cysts is common with the growing use of sophisticated abdominal imaging techniques.

Approximately 15% of patients undergoing abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for other indications harbor unsuspected pancreatic cysts.

The management strategy for pancreatic cysts aims to prevent the development of invasive cancer and/or to resect invasive malignancy early when present.

Current clinical practice is based on minimal evidence and relies almost exclusively on case series of frequent cross-sectional imaging with or without endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and/or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology and surgery for concerning features.

The AGA recommends that before starting any pancreatic cyst surveillance program, patients should have a clear understanding of programmatic risks and benefits.

Diagnosis

...Diag...

...A suggests that patients with pancrea...


...GA suggests that pancreatic cysts with at least 2...


...GA suggests that patients without con...


...s that significant changes in the ch...


Management

...Management

...uggests against continued surveillanc...


...that patients with both a solid component and a...


...GA recommends that if surgery is considered for a...


...sts that patients with invasive cancer o...


...he AGA suggests against routine surveilla...


Management of Asymptomatic Neoplastic Pancreatic Cysts

...ymptomatic Neoplastic Pancreatic Cysts...