Pancreatic IPMN in clinical practice: descriptive analysis of 1082 patients referred to multidisciplinary evaluation

BackgroundIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are cystic lesions with varying malignant potential requiring long-term surveillance. However, optimal surveillance strategies remain debated.PurposeTo evaluate imaging and demographic characteristics of IPMN patients referred to our multidisciplinary team (MDT) conference over a 5-year period, and to determine the frequency and histopathological outcomes of surgical resections.Material and MethodsWe assessed a cohort of all patients referred to the weekly IPMN MDT conference between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2023. Using electronic health records, we linked information from imaging records with clinical characteristics. Outcomes included imaging features, presence and development of worrisome features (WFs), and surgical interventions.ResultsDuring the study period, 1082 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study cohort. The majority were female (57.1%) and mean age at entry was 69.8 years. Branch duct IPMN was the most common subtype (95.3%). At baseline, WFs were present in 207 (19.1%) patients and an additional 47 (4.1%) patients developed WFs during follow-up. Rapid cyst growth was observed in 6.8% using the Fukuoka criteria and 10.3% using the updated Kyoto 2024 criteria. Surgical resection was performed in 62 (5.7%) patients, of whom 31 (2.9%) had malignant transformation or high-grade dysplasia.ConclusionMalignant transformation was uncommon among our IPMN patients. WFs and rapid cyst growth were not consistent predictors. These findings support more individualized and less intensive surveillance.