Endoscopic ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) to diagnose idiopathic acute pancreatitis has been demonstrated but that of magnetic-resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) remains unclear. AIMS: The aim of our study was to prospectively compare the results of EUS and MRCP to diagnose idiopathic acute pancreatitis when performed later after an acute attack. METHODS: All patients admitted to our center for acute pancreatitis over a 2-year period received first-line investigations that included medical history, standard biological measurements, abdominal ultrasound, and computerized tomography. If no etiology was found, second-line investigations were scheduled at 2 months (or more if there was severe pancreatitis), which included clinical examinations, biological parameters, EUS, and MRCP. RESULTS: A total of 128 consecutive patients were included (male: 80, mean age: 55.3 years). After first-line investigations, 41 patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis underwent second-line investigations and were followed-up (38 patients had both EUS and MRCP). EUS and/or MRCP led to recognize a possible etiology of pancreatitis in 19 patients (50 %). The diagnostic yield for EUS was higher than for MRCP (29 vs. 10.5 %). EUS more accurately detected biliary stones whereas MRCP identified pancreatic duct abnormalities, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas or chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of EUS and MRCP, when performed later after idiopathic acute pancreatitis, revealed 50 % of etiologies. The association of these two procedures and the subsequent follow-up reduced the rate of idiopathic pancreatitis by ~66 %.

Long-term clinical and imaging follow-up of nonoperated branch duct form of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to perform a 10-year imaging and clinical prospective follow-up of patients with nonoperated branch duct (BD) intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with BD-IPMN who displayed a low probability for malignancy were followed up including a clinical component and a series of imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic ultrasonography. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 77 months, 77.5% of patients remained free of symptoms. An increase in the size and number of BD cysts without mural nodules and with no significant increase of main duct size occurred in 18 patients at an average interval of 47 months. Five patients were operated on owing to recurrent pancreatitis and/or an increase in the size of either cysts or the main duct (mean time delay after diagnosis: 20 months). Pathologically, they were diagnosed as benign adenoma (n = 1) or borderline (n = 4). CONCLUSIONS: Our long-term clinical and imaging follow-up indicated that none of the patients with BD-IPMNs developed malignancy. Therefore, BD-IPMNs with no signs of malignancy should be managed conservatively. We propose that following a 2-year patient follow-up, biannual imaging follow-ups could be sufficient.