Abstract
Objective: Observation of the pancreatic duct is highly useful in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases, and pancreatic duct dilatation is a high risk factor of pancreatic cancer. We investigated the results of follow-up examinations on examinees with pancreatic duct dilatation to clarify the need for such follow-up.
Methods: One hundred sixty-two examinees in whom pancreatic duct dilatation was detected in abdominal ultrasonographic (US) screening between April 1996 and March 2013 were the subjects of this study. They were divided into two groups as follows; Group A, consisting of 31 examinees in whom pancreatic duct dilatation was also observed in US performed one month after the initial screening US that detected pancreatic duct dilatation, and group B, consisting of 98 examinees in whom pancreatic duct dilatation was not observed in US performed one month after the initial screening US.
Results: Analysis of blood tests revealed no significant differences between groups A and B. Five cases of chronic pancreatitis, 3 cases of IPMN, 1 case of pancreas cyst and 1 case of pancreatic cancer were discovered in group A. In group B, 2 cases of pancreatic cysts and 1 case of IPMN without mucin-secretion were discovered 2 years and 8 years after the initial screening US, respectively.
Conclusion: We have to continue to follow-up of examinees with pancreatic duct dilatation for subsequent events, even if pancreatic duct dilatation disappears in follow-up US.
