Yale Cancer Center researchers are trying to figure out how long doctors should keep monitoring a certain type of pancreatic cyst.
These cysts are called intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), and they could turn into cancer.
Once found, these cysts need regular check-ups using medical imaging. But doctors are still deciding how long these check-ups should go on.
The researchers focused on IPMN cysts that have not changed size for at least five years and do not show any worrying signs.
They have published their study in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
What the Study Says
“Pancreatic cysts are very common and often need regular check-ups because they can turn into cancer,” said Dr. James Farrell, the lead researcher of the study.
But he added that there is disagreement on when patients can stop these check-ups. His study shows that the risk of the cysts becoming cancerous remains even after five or 10 years of check-ups.
The researchers looked at 41 studies that monitored IPMN cysts.
They compared the rate of worrisome features and signs of high risk (WF/HRS), as well as advanced neoplasia (including pancreatic cancer) during the first five years of monitoring and after five years.
They found that the risk of WF/HRS increased from 2.2% in the first five years to 2.9% after five years. The risk of advanced neoplasia also increased from 0.6% to 1.0%.
But for patients whose cyst size stayed the same for five years, the risk of WF/HRS dropped to 1.9% and the risk of advanced neoplasia dropped to 0.2% in the extended period.
What this Means for Patients
For some patients, if their cyst size hasn’t changed in five years or more, continuing check-ups may not help them live longer.
However, the researchers say we need more high-quality studies before they can recommend stopping these check-ups.
“We need to know more about how pancreatic cysts develop to improve our check-up strategies,” said Farrell.
He suggested this could help doctors make better decisions about which patients need closer monitoring and which ones can have fewer check-ups.
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The study was published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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