Defining Pancreatitis as a Risk Factor for Pancreatic Cancer: The Role, Incidence, and Timeline of Development.

OBJECTIVES: Acute and/or chronic pancreatitis has been implicated as an important risk factor for pancreatic cancer; however, the incidence and temporal relationship of pancreatitis before pancreatic cancer diagnosis are unclear. We aim to understand the role and incidence of pancreatitis temporally with the development of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A population-based study was used to investigate a temporal relationship between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer diagnoses. Intervals of 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were developed. Demographical data including age, sex, and race were also recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 50,080 patients were found to have a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, of which 7420 (14.8%) had prior diagnoses of pancreatitis. Of those, 92% were between the ages of 40 and 89 years. African Americans had a higher rate of pancreatitis before cancer diagnosis when compared with whites (21.2% vs 14.8%, P < 0.0001). Further analysis revealed that pancreatitis occurred in 81.3% of patients 3 months before a diagnosis of pancreas cancer and 98.9% had established diagnoses of pancreatic cancer within 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Screening of patients older than 40 years who have pancreatitis and unclear etiology of pancreatitis may be warranted, especially in African Americans and male individuals.

Genetic Mutations in Pediatric Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of children with acute recurrent (ARP) or chronic (CP) pancreatitis with or without mutations in PRSS1, CFTR or SPINK1. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of children with ARP or CP with and without testing for PRSS1, CFTR, and SPINK1. Demographics, clinical features, management, and outcome were collected. Analysis of variance was used to compare continuous variables and χ or Fisher exact test for categorical variables. RESULTS: Ninety-one subjects with ARP (n = 77) or CP (n = 14) were identified and included in this study. Of these, 37 (41%) were male, 44 were white, and 30 were Hispanic. Thirty-three (36%) had at least 1 mutation identified (Pan-Mut): PRSS1 (7), CFTR (21), SPINK1 (3), SPINK/CFTR (2). Thirty-six were tested but had no mutation, and 22 were not tested. The Pan-Mut subjects were more likely to have a family history of pancreatitis but there were no differences in the clinical features, imaging or outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in CFTR, SPINK1 or PRSS1 are present in one third of pediatric ARP and CP with no other cause. No clinical features or outcomes differentiated between the Pan-Mut group and the no-mutation group. The Pan-Mut subjects were more likely to have a family history of pancreatitis. Pediatric ARP and CP without identified cause should undergo genetic testing.