Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Limited to Intrahepatic Bile Ducts Has Distinctly Better Prognosis.

BACKGROUND: There are two sub-phenotypes of large-duct primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC): isolated intrahepatic PSC (IIPSC) and extrahepatic disease with or without intrahepatic (extra/intrahepatic). AIMS: This study examined the differences in outcomes in patients with IIPSC compared to extra/intrahepatic and small-duct PSC. METHODS: Patients with PSC treated at our institution from 1998 to 2019 were investigated. Biochemistries, clinical events, and survival were assessed by chart review and National Death Index. Cox-proportional hazards were used to determine the risk of clinical outcomes based on biliary tract involvement. RESULTS: Our cohort comprised 442 patients with large-duct PSC (57 had IIPSC, 385 had extra/intrahepatic PSC) and 23 with small-duct PSC. Median follow-up in the IIPSC group was not significantly different from the extra/intrahepatic group [7 vs. 6 years, P = 0.06]. Except for lower age (mean 37.9 vs. 43.0 years, P = 0.045), the IIPSC group was not different from the extra/intrahepatic. The IIPSC group had longer transplant-free survival (log-rank P = 0.001) with a significantly lower risk for liver transplantation (12% vs. 34%, P < 0.001). The IIPSC group had a lower risk of death or transplantation than the extra/intrahepatic PSC group [HR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17-0.67, P < 0.001]. No bile duct or gallbladder cancers developed in patients with IIPSC, compared to 24 in the extra/intrahepatic group. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of IIPSC were similar to 23 individuals with small-duct PSC. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IIPSC have a favorable prognosis similar to small-duct PSC. These data are important for counseling patients and designing therapeutic trials for PSC.

A composite score using quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography predicts clinical outcomes in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Background & Aims: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for evaluation of biliary disease currently relies on subjective assessment with limited prognostic value because of the lack of quantitative metrics. Artificial intelligence-enabled quantitative MRCP (MRCP+) is a novel technique that segments biliary anatomy and provides quantitative biliary tree metrics. This study investigated the utility of MRCP+ as a prognostic tool for the prediction of clinical outcomes in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Methods: MRCP images of patients with PSC were post-processed using MRCP+ software. The duration between the MRCP and clinical event (liver transplantation or death) was calculated. Survival analysis and stepwise Cox regression were performed to investigate the optimal combination of MRCP+ metrics for the prediction of clinical outcomes. The resulting risk score was validated in a separate validation cohort and compared with an existing prognostic score (Mayo risk score). Results: In this retrospective study, 102 patients were included in a training cohort and a separate 50 patients formed a validation cohort. Between the two cohorts, 34 patients developed clinical outcomes over a median duration of 3 years (23 liver transplantations and 11 deaths). The proportion of bile ducts with diameter 3-5 mm, total bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase were independently associated with transplant-free survival. Combined as a risk score, the overall discriminative performance of the MRCP+ risk score (M+BA) was excellent; area under the receiver operator curve 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77, 0.95) at predicting clinical outcomes in the validation cohort with a hazard ratio 5.8 (95% CI: 1.5, 22.1). This was superior to the Mayo risk score. Conclusions: A composite score combining MRCP+ with total bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase (M+BA) identified PSC patients at high risk of liver transplantation or death. Prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical utility of this novel prognostic tool. Impact and Implications: Primary sclerosis cholangitis (PSC) is a disease of the biliary tree where inflammation and fibrosis cause areas of narrowing (strictures) and expansion (dilatations) within the biliary ducts leading to liver failure and/or cancer (cholangiocarcinoma). In this study, we demonstrate that quantitative assessment of the biliary tree can better identify patients with PSC who are at high risk of either death or liver transplantation than a current blood-based risk score (Mayo risk score).

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not associated with impairment in health-related quality of life in virally suppressed persons with human immune deficiency virus.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in persons with HIV (PWH) (HIV-NAFLD). It is unknown if HIV-NAFLD is associated with impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We examined HRQOL in PWH with and without NAFLD, compared HRQOL in HIV- versus primary NAFLD, and determined factors associated with HRQOL in these groups. Prospectively enrolled 200 PWH and 474 participants with primary NAFLD completed the Rand SF-36 assessment which measures 8 domains of HRQOL. Individual domain scores were used to create composite physical and mental component summary scores. Univariate and multivariate analyses determined variables associated with HRQOL in PWH and in HIV- and primary NAFLD. In PWH, 48% had HIV-NAFLD, 10.2% had clinically significant fibrosis, 99.5% were on antiretroviral therapy, and 96.5% had HIV RNA <200 copies/ml. There was no difference in HRQOL in PWH with or without NAFLD. Diabetes, non-Hispanic ethnicity, and nadir CD4 counts were independently associated with impaired HRQOL in PWH. In HIV-NAFLD, HRQOL did not differ between participants with or without clinically significant fibrosis. Participants with HIV-NAFLD compared to those with primary NAFLD were less frequently cisgender females, White, more frequently Hispanic, had lower BMI and lower frequency of obesity and diabetes. HRQOL of individuals with HIV-NAFLD was not significantly different from those with primary NAFLD. In conclusion, in virally suppressed PWH, HRQOL is not different between participants with or without HIV-NAFLD. HRQOL is not different between HIV-NAFLD and primary NAFLD.

Burden of fatty liver and hepatic fibrosis in persons with HIV: A diverse cross-sectional US multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AIMS: The current prevalence of fatty liver disease (FLD) due to alcohol-associated (AFLD) and nonalcoholic (NAFLD) origins in US persons with HIV (PWH) is not well defined. We prospectively evaluated the burden of FLD and hepatic fibrosis in a diverse cohort of PWH. APPROACH RESULTS: Consenting participants in outpatient HIV clinics in 3 centers in the US underwent detailed phenotyping, including liver ultrasound and vibration-controlled transient elastography for controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement. The prevalence of AFLD, NAFLD, and clinically significant and advanced fibrosis was determined. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with the risk of NAFLD. Of 342 participants, 95.6% were on antiretroviral therapy, 93.9% had adequate viral suppression, 48.7% (95% CI 43%-54%) had steatosis by ultrasound, and 50.6% (95% CI 45%-56%) had steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter ≥263 dB/m. NAFLD accounted for 90% of FLD. In multivariable analysis, old age, higher body mass index, diabetes, and higher alanine aminotransferase, but not antiretroviral therapy or CD4 + cell count, were independently associated with increased NAFLD risk. In all PWH with fatty liver, the frequency of liver stiffness measurement 8-12 kPa was 13.9% (95% CI 9%-20%) and ≥12 kPa 6.4% (95% CI 3%-11%), with a similar frequency of these liver stiffness measurement cutoffs in NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the virally-suppressed PWH have FLD, 90% of which is due to NAFLD. A fifth of the PWH with FLD has clinically significant fibrosis, and 6% have advanced fibrosis. These data lend support to systematic screening for high-risk NAFLD in PWH.

Inter- and intra-observer variability of computed tomography-based parenchymal- and ductal diameters in chronic pancreatitis: a multi-observer international study.

PURPOSE: The need for incorporation of quantitative imaging biomarkers of pancreatic parenchymal and ductal structures has been highlighted in recent proposals for new scoring systems in chronic pancreatitis (CP). To quantify inter- and intra-observer variability in CT-based measurements of ductal- and gland diameters in CP patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively acquired pancreatic CT examinations from 50 CP patients were reviewed by 12 radiologists and four pancreatologists from 10 institutions. Assessment entailed measuring maximum diameter in the axial plane of four structures: (1) pancreatic head (PDhead), (2) pancreatic body (PDbody), (3) main pancreatic duct in the pancreatic head (MPDhead), and (4) body (MPDbody). Agreement was assessed by the 95% limits of agreement with the mean (LOAM), representing how much a single measurement for a specific subject may plausibly deviate from the mean of all measurements on the specific subject. Bland-Altman limits of agreement (LoA) were generated for intra-observer pairs. RESULTS: The 16 observers completed 6400 caliper placements comprising a first and second measurement session. The widest inter-observer LOAM was seen with PDhead (± 9.1 mm), followed by PDbody (± 5.1 mm), MPDhead (± 3.2 mm), and MPDbody (± 2.6 mm), whereas the mean intra-observer LoA width was ± 7.3, ± 5.1, ± 3.7, and ± 2.4 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Substantial intra- and inter-observer variability was observed in pancreatic two-point measurements. This was especially pronounced for parenchymal and duct diameters of the pancreatic head. These findings challenge the implementation of two-point measurements as the foundation for quantitative imaging scoring systems in CP.

Evaluation of timed barium esophagram after per-oral endoscopic myotomy to predict clinical response.

Background and study aims The aim of this study was to evaluate whether timed barium esophagram within 24 hours post-per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) (TBE-PP) could predict clinical outcomes. Patients and methods This was a single-center retrospective study of prospectively collected data on consecutive patients with ≥ 6-month follow-up who underwent POEM followed by TBE-PP. Esophageal contrast retention 2 minutes after TBE-PP was assessed as Grade 1 (< 10 %), 2 (10 %-49 %), 3 (50 %-89 %) or 4 (> 90 %). Eckardt score, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), high-resolution manometry (HRM) and function lumen imaging probe (FLIP) of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) were obtained at baseline. These tests along with pH testing of antisecretory therapy were repeated 6 and 24 months after POEM. Clinical response by Eckardt score ≤ 3, EGJ-distensibility index (EGJ-DI) > 2.8 mm 2 /mm Hg, and integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) < 15 mm Hg and incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were compared by transit time. Results Of 181 patients (58 % male, mean 53 ±â€Š17 yr), TBE-PP was classified as Grade 1 in 122 (67.4 %), Grade 2 in 41 (22.7 %), Grade 3 in 14 (7.7 %) and Grade 4 in 4 (2.2 %). At 6 months, overall clinical response by ES (91.7 %), IRP (86.6 %), EGJ-DI (95.7 %) and the diagnosis of GERD (68.6 %) was similar between Grade 1 and Grade 2-4 TBE-PP. At 24 months, Grade 1 had a higher frequency of a normal IRP compared to Grades 2-4 (95.7 % vs. 60 %, P  = 0.021) but overall response by ES (91.2 %), EGJ-DI (92.3 %) and the diagnosis of GERD (74.3 %) were similar. Conclusions Contrast emptying rate by esophagram after POEM has limited utility to predict clinical response or risk of post-procedure GERD.

Racial differences in primary sclerosing cholangitis mortality is associated with community socioeconomic status.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Natural history and outcomes data in PSC are mostly derived from cohorts where Blacks have been underrepresented. It is unknown if there are differences in mortality between Blacks and Whites with PSC. METHODS: PSC patients seen at our institution from June 1988 to Jan 2019 were identified by merging prospective ERCP hepatology-clinic databases and liver-transplant registry. Data on race, clinical events, and death was obtained through chart review. Data on community health were collected using indices from county health rankings. Cumulative incidence of death was calculated using liver transplant (LT) as a competing risk. RESULTS: Of 449 patients, 404 were White and 45 were Black. The median-duration of follow-up was 7 years (IQR:3, 13). Black patients were younger at presentation than White patients (36.3 vs 42.5 years., P = .013). Disease severity as indicated by Mayo Risk Score categories (low 27% vs 31%, intermediate 54% vs 49% and high 19% vs 19%, P = .690), comorbidity burden and frequency of cirrhosis (42% vs 35%, P = .411) were similar between Blacks and Whites. Cumulative incidence of liver-related death, with LT as a competing risk was significantly higher in Blacks compared to Whites (sHR 1.80, 95%CI 1.25, 2.61, P = .002). There was a significant interaction between race and community socioeconomic factors that attenuated the racial difference in mortality (sHR 1.01, 95%CI 0.99, 1.04, P = .345). CONCLUSIONS: Blacks with PSC present at a younger age with a similar disease severity as Whites but have higher liver related mortality that is mediated in part through community health.

Magnetic resonance imaging-derived fat fraction predicts risk of malignancy in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

PURPOSE: Assess the relationship between MRI-derived pancreatic fat fraction and risk of malignancy in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). METHODS: MRIs of patients with IPMN who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were analyzed. IPMN with low-grade dysplasia (n = 29) were categorized as low-risk while IPMN at high risk of malignancy consisted of those with high-grade dysplasia/invasive carcinoma (n = 33). Pancreatic fat-fraction (FFmean) was measured using the 2-point Dixon-method. Images were evaluated for the high-risk stigmata and worrisome features according to the revised 2017 Fukuoka consensus criteria. Data on serum CA19-9, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) status, body mass index (BMI), and histological chronic pancreatitis were obtained. RESULTS: A significant difference in FFmean was found between the high-risk IPMN (11.45%) and low-risk IPMN (9.95%) groups (p = 0.027). Serum CA19-9 level (p = 0.021), presence of cyst wall enhancement (p = 0.029), and solid mass (p = 0.008) were significantly associated with high-risk IPMN. There was a significant correlation between FFmean and mural nodule size (r = 0.36, p Ë‚ 0.01), type 2 DM (r = 0.34, p Ë‚ 0.01), age (r = 0.31, p Ë‚ 0.05), serum CA 19-9 (r = 0.30, p Ë‚ 0.05), cyst diameter (r = 0.30, p Ë‚ 0.05), and main pancreatic duct diameter (r = 0.26, p Ë‚ 0.05). Regression analysis revealed FFmean (OR 1.103, p = 0.035) as an independent predictive variable of high-risk IPMN. CONCLUSION: FFmean is significantly associated with high-risk IPMN and an independent predictor of IPMN malignant risk. FFmean may have clinical utility as a biomarker to complement the current IPMN treatment algorithm and improve clinical decision making regarding the need for surgical resection or surveillance.

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms and post-inflammatory cysts: interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance of MRI with MRCP.

PURPOSE: We aimed to answer several clinically relevant questions; (1) the interobserver agreement, (2) diagnostic performance of MRI with MRCP for (a) branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN), mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) and serous cystic neoplasms (SCN), (b) distinguishing mucinous (BD-IPMN and MCN) from non-mucinous cysts, and (c) distinguishing three pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) from post-inflammatory cysts (PIC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed at a tertiary referral center for pancreatic diseases on 71 patients including 44 PCNs and 27 PICs. All PCNs were confirmed by surgical pathology to be 17 BD-IPMNs, 13 MCNs, and 14 SCNs. Main duct and mixed type IPMNs were excluded. Two experienced abdominal radiologists blindly reviewed all the images. RESULTS: Sensitivity of two radiologists for BD-IPMN, MCN and SCN was 88-94%, 62-69% and 57-64%, specificity of 67-78%, 67-78% and 67-78%, and accuracy of 77-82%, 65-75% and 63-73%, respectively. There was 80% sensitivity, 63-73% specificity, 70-76% accuracy for distinguishing mucinous from non-mucinous neoplasms, and 73-75% sensitivity, 67-78% specificity, 70-76% accuracy for distinguishing all PCNs from PICs. There was moderate-to-substantial interobserver agreement (Cohen's kappa: 0.65). CONCLUSION: Two experienced abdominal radiologists had moderate-to-high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for BD-IPMN, MCN, and SCN. The interobserver agreement was moderate-to-substantial. MRI with MRCP can help workup of incidental pancreatic cysts by distinguishing PCNs from PICs, and premalignant mucinous neoplasms from cysts with no malignant potential.

Quantitative assessment of disease severity of primary sclerosing cholangitis with T1 mapping and extracellular volume imaging.

PURPOSE: Assess the relationship between liver T1 relaxation time and extracellular volume (ECV) fraction and the disease severity of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). METHODS: This retrospective study included 93 patients with PSC and 66 healthy patients in the control group. T1 relaxation times were measured in the right and left lobe, as well as in the area of stricture. T1PSC and ECVPSC were calculated by averaging T1 and ECV of both lobes and stricture site. T1 and ECV were compared between the two groups and according to PSC phenotypes and severity based on Mayo Risk Score (MRS). We also examined the relationship between T1 and ECV with non-invasive measures of fibrosis such as Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography. RESULTS: Mean liver T1 (774 ± 111 ms, p < 0.001) and liver ECV (0.40 ± 0.14, p < 0.05) were significantly higher with both large-duct and small-duct-type PSC which may lack classic imaging findings on MRCP compared to the control group (p < 0.001). T1PSC and ECVPSC showed weak-moderate correlation with LSM, FIB-4, and MRS (p < 0.05). Cut-off values of liver T1 to detect patients in low-risk and high-risk MRS groups were 677 ms (AUC: 0.68, sensitivity: 76%, specificity: 53%, p = 0.03) and 743 ms (AUC: 0.83, sensitivity: 79%, specificity: 76%, p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: T1 relaxation time and ECV fraction can be used for quantitative assessment of disease severity in patients with PSC.

Wirsungocele: evaluation by MRCP and clinical significance.

PURPOSE: Wirsungocele is a rare cystic dilatation of the main pancreatic duct seen at the terminal portion of the duct of Wirsung. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of MRCP in detection of Wirsungocele and the association between the MRCP-determined size of Wirsungocele and the MRCP-clinical findings of pancreatitis. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with reported 'Wirsungocele' were analyzed in the study. Two radiologists reviewed MRCP/S-MRCP images for the presence and diameter of Wirsungocele (WD), main pancreatic duct dilatation (MPDD), side branch ectasia (SBE), acinarization, and duodenal filling grade. Electronic medical record review included symptoms (abdominal pain), signs (recurrent acute/chronic pancreatitis), and select laboratory testing (serum amylase and lipase). Inter-reader agreement values were calculated by ICC. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the association of WD with radiological and clinical findings. The comparison of WD on MRCP versus S-MRCP was calculated by Wilcoxon test. Mann-Whitney U test was used for two independent variable comparisons. RESULTS: The sensitivity of MRCP for the detection of Wirsungocele calculated using the S-MRCP and ERCP as the reference method was 76.9% and 100%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the diameter of Wirsungocele measured by MRCP vs S-MRCP (p < 0.001). There was good inter-reader agreement for the detection of Wirsungocele on MRCP and measurement of WD on MRCP and S-MRCP (ICC: 0.79, 0.89, and 0.80, respectively, p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in WD between the patients with and without MPDD (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between WD and MPDD (r = 0.66, p < 0.05). WD was significantly associated with recurrent acute pancreatitis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MRCP is a highly sensitive and non-invasive imaging tool for detection of Wirsungocele. Greater Wirsungocele diameter is associated with MPDD and recurrent acute pancreatitis.

Is Cambridge scoring in chronic pancreatitis the same using ERCP and MRCP?: A need for revision of standards.

PURPOSE: Grading of chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a clinical and radiologic challenge. Retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) use a version of the Cambridge criteria for ductal evaluation and CP staging, but interchangeability between the modalities lacks validation. This work compares ERCP and MRCP Cambridge scores and evaluates diagnostic performance of MRCP in a large cohort of patients with CP. METHODS: A large radiology database was searched for CP patients who underwent MRCP between 2003 and 2013. Next, patients who also had an ERCP within 90 days of their MRCP were selected. These were categorized into mild, moderate, and severe CP using the standardized Cambridge classification for ERCP. Radiologists blinded to ERCP findings then rated MRCP with modified Cambridge scores. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 325 patients (mean age 51 years; 56% female). By ERCP Cambridge classification, 122 had mild CP, 109 moderate CP, and 94 severe CP. MRCP and ERCP showed total agreement of Cambridge score in only 43% of cases. With ERCP as reference, the sensitivity and specificity of MRCP in detecting Cambridge scores 4 + 5 (main-duct predominant) were 75.9% and 64.3%, and for Cambridge score 3 (side-branch predominant) it was 60.0% and 76.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of strong concordance between ERCP- and MRCP-based grading of CP using the Cambridge criteria. MRCP had moderate to good performance in diagnosing side-branch predominant versus main-duct predominant CP. This suggests an inherent challenge in comparing literature and calls for a revision of the standards.

Impact of age on the diagnostic performance of pancreatic ductal diameters in detecting chronic pancreatitis.

PURPOSE: In the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP), definition of main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilation is challenging due to lack of commonly accepted normal values. This study assessed the diagnostic performance of MPD diameters to detect CP including the impact of age. METHODS: 274 patients with ERCP-verified CP and 262 healthy controls were included. All had magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with measurement of MPD diameters in the pancreatic head, body, and tail. CP disease stage was defined as patients with and without functional (exocrine and/or endocrine) impairment. Diagnostic performance of MPD diameter and corresponding cut-offs values to diagnose CP were determined, including an age-stratified analysis. RESULTS: In healthy controls, an effect of age on MPD diameters was seen for the pancreatic head (P < 0.001), body (P = 0.006), and tail (P = 0.03). Patients with CP had increased MPD diameter compared to controls (all segments P < 0.001). Increased pancreatic head MPD diameter was seen in patients with functional pancreatic impairment compared to patients without (P = 0.03). The diagnostic performance of MPD diameter to detect CP was high (all segments ROC-AUC > 0.92). The optimal pancreatic MPD diameter cut-off values for diagnosing CP were: < 40 years: 2.0(head) and 1.8(body) mm; 40-60 years: 2.4(head) and 2.1(body) mm; > 60 years: 2.7(head) and 2.1(body) mm. CONCLUSION: Age is an important factor when evaluating the diameter of the pancreatic ductal system. Our findings challenge the existing reported thresholds for defining an abnormal duct diameter and point at age-stratified assessments as an integrated part of future imaging-based diagnostic and grading systems for CP.

Reporting of acute pancreatitis by radiologists-time for a systematic change with structured reporting template.

Acute pancreatitis has a wide array of imaging presentations. Various classifications have been used in the past to standardize the terminology and reduce confusing and redundant terms. We aim to review the historical and current classifications of acute pancreatitis and propose a new reporting template which can improve communication between various medical teams by use of appropriate terminology and structured radiology template. The standardized reporting template not only conveys the most important imaging findings in a simplified yet comprehensive way but also allows structured data collection for future research and teaching purposes.

CT and MRI imaging and interpretation of hepatic arterioportal shunts.

Hepatic arterioportal shunts (HAPS) occur due to organic or functional fistulization of blood flow between arterial hepatic vasculature and venous portal systems. It is a type of hemodynamic abnormality of the liver being observed increasingly with the use of temporal imaging modalities. HAPS occur due to other underlying hepatic abnormalities including the presence of an underlying tumor or malignancy. When a HAPS is present, the appearance of these abnormalities on imaging studies suggests an underlying abnormality, must be considered atypical even if asymptomatic, and warrants careful evaluation. Over time, and as a function of degree of fistulae, symptoms and potential life-threatening complications may arise from the HAPS. These systemic complications may include the development of portal hypertension, splenomegaly, as well as accelerated metastasis in patients with malignant tumors. This manuscript reviews common underlying conditions associated with HAPS and their radiologic interpretation.

The Dilemma of the Dilated Main Pancreatic Duct in the Distal Pancreatic Remnant After Proximal Pancreatectomy for IPMN.

OBJECTIVE(S): A dilated main pancreatic duct in the distal remnant after proximal pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) poses a diagnostic dilemma. We sought to determine parameters predictive of remnant main-duct IPMN and malignancy during surveillance. METHODS: Three hundred seventeen patients underwent proximal pancreatectomy for IPMN (Indiana University, 1991-2016). Main-duct dilation included those ≥ 5 mm or "dilated" on radiographic reports. Statistics compared groups using Student's T/Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables or chi-square/Fisher's exact test for categorical variables with P < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: High-grade/invasive IPMN or adenocarcinoma at proximal pancreatectomy predicted malignant outcomes (100.0% malignant outcomes; P < 0.001) in remnant surveillance. Low/moderate-grade lesions revealed benign outcomes at last surveillance regardless of duct diameter. Twenty of 21 patients undergoing distal remnant reoperation had a dilated main duct. Seven had main-duct IPMN on remnant pathology; these patients had greater mean maximum main-duct diameter prior to reoperation (9.5 vs 6.2 mm, P = 0.072), but this did not reach statistical significance. Several features showed high sensitivity/specificity for remnant main-duct IPMN. CONCLUSIONS: Remnant main-duct dilation after proximal pancreatectomy for IPMN remains a diagnostic dilemma. Several parameters show a promise in accurately diagnosing main-duct IPMN in the remnant.

Distribution and correlation of pancreatic gland size and duct diameters on MRCP in patients without evidence of pancreatic disease.

PURPOSE: To use MRCP to investigate age-related changes and gender differences of the pancreas and to correlate pancreatic gland size and duct diameter. METHODS: In this institutional review, board-approved, HIPAA-compliant study, 280 patients (age 20-88 years) without a history of pancreatic or liver disease who had undergone MRI/MRCP from 2004 to 2015 were identified. The anteroposterior size and main duct diameter of the pancreatic head, body, and tail were measured. The pancreatic gland and duct sizes were compared between genders, and among seven age subgroups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89). RESULTS: The pancreatic head and body were significantly larger in males than females (head, p < 0.01; body, p = 0.03), while the tail and the duct diameters of the pancreatic head, body, and tail showed no gender difference. As the age of male participants increased, there was an associated increase in size of the pancreatic gland initially (largest at age 50-59 (body) and 60-69 (head)), followed by subsequent decline in size thereafter. Additionally, the pancreatic duct diameter was found to increase gradually. In females, the size of the pancreatic gland decreased, while the diameter of the pancreatic duct increased with age. Moderate positive correlation for gland size and strong positive correlation for duct diameter among different pancreatic regions were found. Weak negative correlation was found between gland size and duct diameter. CONCLUSIONS: There are gender differences in the gland size of the pancreatic head and body. The pancreatic gland size increases until the sixth decade in males, with a more continuous decrease in gland size with age in females. Both males and females demonstrate a marked decrease in gland size after the eighth decade. The duct diameter increases with age in both males and females.