Diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is an important cause of maldigestion and a major complication in chronic pancreatitis.Normal digestion requires adequate stimulation of pancreatic secretion,sufficient production of digestive enzymes by pancreatic acinar cells,a pancreatic duct system without significant outflow obstruction and adequate mixing of the pancreatic juice with ingested food.Failure in any of these steps may result in pancreatic exocrine insufficiency,which leads to steatorrhea,weight loss and malnutrition-related complications,such as osteoporosis.Methods evaluating digestion,such as fecal fat quantification and the13C-mixed triglycerides test,are the most accurate tests for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency,but the probability of the diagnosis can also be estimated based on symptoms,signs of malnutrition in blood tests,fecal elastase 1 levels and signs of morphologically severe chronic pancreatitis on imaging.Treatment for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency includes support to stop smoking and alcohol consumption,dietary consultation,enzyme replacement therapy and a structured follow-up of nutritional status and the effect of treatment.Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is administered in the form of enteric-coated minimicro-spheres during meals.The dose should be in proportion to the fat content of the meal,usually 40-50000 lipase units per main meal,and half the dose is required for a snack.In cases that do not respond to initial treatment,the doses can be doubled,and proton inhibitors can be added to the treatment.This review focuses on current concepts of the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: Shedding light on an unresolved challenge

Diagnosing early-stage pancreatic cancer(PC)remains a clinical challenge.Hence,studying novel imaging aspects that could enhance the diagnostic accuracy of malignant pancreatic precursor lesions is imperative.This article aims to un-derscore the promising role of emerging imaging aspects that may facilitate the earlier diagnosis of PC,thereby improving its management and prognosis.

Value of Texture Analysis of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Parameters in Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor and Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Objective To evaluate the value of texture features derived from intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM) parameters for differentiating pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor(pNET) from pancreatic adenocarcinoma(PAC).Methods Eighteen patients with pNET and 32 patients with PAC were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted imaging with 10 b values used(from 0 to 800 s/mm2). Based on IVIM model, perfusion-related parameters including perfusion fraction(f), fast component of diffusion(Dfast) and true diffusion parameter slow component of diffusion(Dslow) were calculated on a voxel-by-voxel basis and reorganized into gray-encoded parametric maps. The mean value of each IVIM parameter and texture features [Angular Second Moment(ASM), Inverse Difference Moment(IDM), Correlation, Contrast and Entropy] values of IVIM parameters were measured. Independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test were performed for the betweengroup comparison of quantitative data. Regression model was established by using binary logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency.Results The mean f value of the pNET group were significantly higher than that of the PAC group(27.0% vs. 19.0%, P = 0.001), while the mean values of Dfast and Dslow showed no significant differences between the two groups. All texture features(ASM, IDM, Correlation, Contrast and Entropy) of each IVIM parameter showed significant differences between the pNET and PAC groups(P = 0.000-0.043). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that texture ASM of Dfast and texture Correlation of Dslow were considered as the specific imaging variables for the differential diagnosis of pNET and PAC. ROC analysis revealed that multiple texture features presented better diagnostic performance than IVIM parameters(AUC 0.849-0.899 vs. 0.526-0.776), and texture ASM of Dfast combined with Correlation of Dslow in the model of logistic regression had largest area under ROC curve for distinguishing pNET from PAC(AUC 0.934, cutoff 0.378, sensitivity 0.889, specificity 0.854). Conclusion Texture analysis of IVIM parameters could be an effective and noninvasive tool to differentiate pNET from PAC.

Emphysematous pancreatitis:Diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis

BACKGROUND Emphysematous pancreatitis(EP)is a rare,severe form of acute necrotizing pancreatitis characterized by gas in pancreatic or peripancreatic tissue,with a high mortality rate.AIM To assess the diagnosis,treatment,and outcomes of EP through a series of case studies.METHODS This case series was conducted in intensive care units at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.Patients were included if they were diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis and gas via computed tomography from June 2018 to June 2024.Patients were categorized into early and late EP groups based on the timing of the appearance of the bubble sign and into extensive and common types based on the distribution range of the bubble sign.The data recorded included sex,age,aetiology,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score,Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score,Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score,subtype,gas distribution extent,aetiological diagnostic basis,pathogen categories,intervention measures,and prognosis.RESULTS Among the 15 patients,66.7%had a biliary aetiology and extensive type of EP,47.1%had early-onset EP,and 73.3%had confirmed aetiological evidence[6 based on bacterial culture,4 based on both routine culture and next-generation sequencing(NGS),and 1 solely based on NGS].The common pathogens were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Six patients survived.Among the 2 patients who did not undergo percutaneous drainage or surgical treatment,1 survived.Of the 6 patients who underwent percutaneous drainage,2 survived,2 survived after subsequent surgery,and 2 died without surgery.Among the 6 patients who underwent surgery alone,5 died and 1 survived.Among the early-onset EP patients,4 survived;among the late-onset EP patients,2 survived.Among the common EP types,4 survived;among the extensive EP types,only 1 survived.CONCLUSION The mortality rate among patients with EP is considerable,and NGS enhances pathogen identification accuracy.Despite the debate on conservative vs surgical management,the STEP-UP strategy remains viable.Aggressive antimicrobial therapy,early percutaneous catheter drainage,and other minimally invasive interventions,along with delayed surgical intervention,may improve patient prognosis.

Type one autoimmune pancreatitis based on clinical diagnosis: A case report

BACKGROUND Autoimmune pancreatitis(AIP)is a rare form of autoimmune-mediated pancrea-titis,which is easily misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer and thus treated surgi-cally.We studied the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with type 1 AIP recent-ly admitted to our hospital,and reviewed the literature to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis of AIP.CASE SUMMARY The chief complaint was yellowing of the body,eyes and urine for 21 d.The pa-tient's clinical presentation was obstructive jaundice and imaging suggested pan-creatic swelling.It was difficult to distinguish between inflammation and tumor.Serum immunoglobulin G4(IgG4)was markedly elevated.IgG4 is an important serological marker for type 1 AIP.The patient was diagnosed with AIP,IgG4-related cholangitis,acute cholecystitis and hepatic impairment.After applying hormonal therapy,the patient's symptoms improved significantly.At the same time,imaging suggested that pancreatic swelling subsided,and liver function and other biochemical indicators decreased.The treatment was effective.CONCLUSION In patients with pancreatic swelling,the possibility of AIP should be considered.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in adults:A shared position statement of the Italian association for the study of the pancreas

This is a medical position statement developed by the Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency collaborative group which is a part of the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas(AISP).We covered the main diseases associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency(EPI)which are of common interest to internists/gastroenterologists,oncologists and surgeons,fully aware that EPI may also occur together with many other diseases,but less frequently.A preliminary manuscript based on an extended literature search(Medline/PubMed,Cochrane Library and Google Scholar)of published reports was prepared,and key recommendations were proposed.The evidence was discussed at a dedicated meeting in Bologna during the National Meeting of the Association in October 2012.Each of the proposed recommendations and algorithms was discussed and an initial consensus was reached.The final draft of the manuscript was then sent to the AISP Council for approval and/or modification.All concerned parties approved the final version of the manuscript in June 2013.

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in the 21^(st) century

Restitution of normal fat absorption in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency remains an elusive goal. Although many patients achieve satisfactory clinical results with enzyme therapy, few experience normalization of fat absorption, and many, if not most, will require individualized therapy. Increasing the quantity of lipase administered rarely eliminates steatorrhea but increases the cost of therapy. Enteric coated enzyme microbead formulations tend to separate from nutrients in the stomach precluding coordinated emptying of enzymes and nutrients. Unprotected enzymes mix well and empty with nutrients but are inactivated at pH 4 or below. We describe approaches for improving the results of enzyme therapy including changing to, or adding, a different product, adding non-enteric coated enzymes,(e.g., giving unprotected enzymes at the start of the mealand acid-protected formulations later), use of antisecretory drugs and/or antacids, and changing the timing of enzyme administration. Because considerable lipid is emptied in the first postprandial hour, it is prudent to start therapy with enteric coated microbead prior to the meal so that some enzymes are available during that first hour. Patients with hyperacidity may benefit from adjuvant antisecretory therapy to reduce the duodenal acid load and possibly also sodium bicarbonate to prevent duodenal acidity. Comparative studies of clinical effectiveness of different formulations as well as the characteristics of dispersion, emptying, and dissolution of enteric-coated microspheres of different diameter and density are needed; many such studies have been completed but not yet made public. We discuss the history of pancreatic enzyme therapy and describe current use of modern preparations, approaches to overcoming unsatisfactory clinical responses, as well as studies needed to be able to provide reliably effective therapy.

Challenges in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a growing source of cancer related death, yet has poor survival rates which have not improved in the last few decades. Its high mortality rate is attributed to pancreatic cancer biology, difficulty in early diagnosis and the lack of standardised international guidelines in assessing suspicious pancreatic masses. This review aims to provide an update in the current state of play in pancreatic cancer diagnosis and to evaluate the benefits and limitations of available diagnostic technology. The main modalities discussed are imaging with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic ultrasound and positron emission tomography and tissue acquisition with fine needle aspiration. We also review the improvements in the techniques used for tissue acquisition and the opportunity for personalised cancer medicine. Screening of high risk individuals, promising biomarkers and common mimickers of pancreatic cancer are also explored, as well as suggestions for future research directions to allow for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer. Timely and accurate diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can lead to improvements in the current poor outcome of this disease.

Detection of serum tumor markers in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND: Although a variety of tumor markers areavailable for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, their sensitivityand specificity have not yet been ideal. The aims of thisstudy was to detect a panel of serum tumor markers and toevaluate their significance in the diagnosis and prognosis ofpancreatic cancer patients.METHODS: Eight serum tumor markers including AFP,CEA, CA-50, CA72-4, CA-125, CA153, CA19-9 and CA242were detected in 129 patients with pancreatic cancer by usingchemiluminescence immunoassay, immunofluorescence as-say and immunoradiometric assay, respectively. The levelsof these markers were compared in 99 patients with non-pancreatic malignant tumor, 63 patients with other benigndiseases, and 27 patients with pancreatic cancer after pan-createctomy.RESULTS: Among the 8 tumor markers, CA19-9, CA242,CA-50, and CA72-4 were more sensitive in the diagnosis ofpancreatic cancer. Parallel combined testing could increasethe diagnostic sensitivity to 89.2%, and serial combined exa-mination could increase the diagnostic specificity to 92.3%.The serum tumor markers levels were decreased significant-ly after radical tumor resection.CONCLUSIONS: Serum CA19-9, CA242, CA-50, andCA72-4 are the preferred tumor markers to be used in thediagnosis and follow-up of operated cases of pancreaticcancer. Testing of a panel of multiple serum tumor mark-ers may increase the sensitivity and specificity in the diag-nosis of pancreatic cancer.

Endoscopic ultrasonography guided-fine needle aspirationfor the diagnosis of solid pancreaticobiliary lesions:Clinicalaspects to improve the diagnosis

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration(EUS-FNA) has been applied to pancreaticobiliary lesions since the 1990 s and is in widespread use throughout the world today. We used this method to confirm the pathological evidence of the pancreaticobiliary lesions and to perform suitable therapies. Complications of EUS-FNA are quite rare, but some of them are severe. Operators should master conventional EUS observation and experience a minimum of 20-30 cases of supervised EUS-FNA on non-pancreatic and pancreatic lesions before attempting solo EUSFNA. Studies conducted on pancreaticobiliary EUSFNA have focused on selection of suitable instruments(e.g., needle selection) and sampling techniques(e.g., fanning method, suction level, with or without a stylet, optimum number of passes). Today, the diagnostic ability of EUS-FNA is still improving; the detection of pancreatic cancer(PC) currently has a sensitivity of 90%-95% and specificity of 95%-100%. In addition to PC, a variety of rare pancreatic tumors can be discriminated by conducting immunohistochemistry on the FNA materials. A flexible, large caliber needle has been used to obtain a large piece of tissue, which can provide sufficient histological information to be helpful in classifying benign pancreatic lesions. EUSFNA can supply high diagnostic yields even for biliary lesions or peri-pancreaticobiliary lymph nodes. This review focuses on the clinical aspects of EUS-FNA in the pancreaticobiliary field, with the aim of providing information that can enable more accurate and efficient diagnosis.

Combined detection of serum tumor markers for differential diagnosis of solid lesions located at the pancreatic head

BACKGROUND: The differential diagnosis of solid lesions located at the pancreatic head is very important for choosing therapies and setting up surgical tactics. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical significance of combined measurement of multiple serum tumor markers and the application of the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves in the differential diagnosis of solid lesions located at the pancreatic head. METHODS: The serum levels of CA19-9, CA242, CA50 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 112 patients with carcinoma of the pancreatic head and 38 patients with focal chronic pancreatitis in the pancreatic head were measured with ELISA. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of the four serum tumor markers were calculated. The ROC curves for the four serum tumor markers were constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. RESULTS: The AUCs of CA19-9, CA242, CA50 and CEA were 0.805, 0.749, 0.738 and 0.705; the PLRs were 1.91, 3.43, 5.09 and 5.46; and the NLRs were 0.41, 0.56, 0.59 and 0.71, respectively. Combined measurements increased the diagnostic specificity, and parallel combined testing increased the diagnostic sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Combined measurement of serum tumor markers CA19-9, CA242, CA50 and CEA is valuable in differential diagnosis of solid lesions located at the pancreatic head, and CA19-9 has the best diagnostic ability. Combined measurements can increase the specificity of diagnosis. Evaluation with the ROC curve is better than the sensitivity or specificity alone and the results are more integrated and objective.

FDG-PET in diagnosis, staging and prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma: A meta-analysis

AIM: To investigate the potential role of positron emission tomography (PET) in the diagnosis, staging and prognosis predicting of pancreatic carcinoma (PC). METHODS: A systematic review of relevant literatures in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library was performed. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic and staging studies, and HRs for prognosis predicting studies were pooled. The bivariate model was used for diagnostic studies and the random-effect model for prognostic studies. Heterogeneity between included studies was tested using χ 2 test, and subgroup analysis was performed to explain the heterogeneities. All of the calculations were performed using Stata version 11.0.RESULTS: A total of 39 studies were included. The pooled sensitivity of PET in diagnosing PC (30 studies, 1582 patients), evaluating N stating (4 studies, 101 patients) and liver metastasis (7 studies, 316 patients) were 0.91 (95%CI: 0.88-0.93), 0.64 (95%CI: 0.50-0.76), and 0.67 (95%CI: 0.52-0.79), respectively; and the corresponding specificity was 0.81 (95%CI: 0.75-0.85), 0.81 (95%CI: 0.25-0.85), and 0.96 (95%CI: 0.89-0.98), respectively. In prognosis analysis (6 studies, 198 patients), significant difference of overall survival was observed between high and low standardized uptake value groups (HR = 2.39, 95%CI: 1.57-3.63). Subgroup analysis showed that PET/CT was more sensitive than PET alone in evaluating liver metastasis of PC, 0.82 (95%CI: 0.48-0.98) and 0.67 (95%CI: 0.52-0.79), respectively. CONCLUSION: PET can be used as a valuable diagnostic and predictive tool for PC, but its effect in the staging of PC remains indeterminate.

Current perspectives on pancreatic serous cystic neoplasms:Diagnosis, management and beyond

Pancreatic cystic neoplasms have been increasingly recognized recently. Comprising about 16% of all resected pancreatic cystic neoplasms, serous cystic neoplasms are uncommon benign lesions that are usually asymptomatic and found incidentally. Despite overall low risk of malignancy, these pancreatic cysts still generate anxiety, leading to intensive medical investigations with considerable financial cost to health care systems. This review discusses the general background of serous cystic neoplasms, including epidemiology and clinical characteristics, and provides an updated overview of diagnostic approaches based on clinical features, relevant imaging studies and new findings that are being discovered pertaining to diagnostic evaluation. We also concisely discuss and propose management strategies for better quality of life.

Novel blood-based microRNA biomarker panel for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

AIM:To develop a panel of blood-based diagnostic biomarkers consisting of circulating microRNAs for the detection of pancreatic cancer at an early stage.METHODS:Blood-based circulating microRNAs were profiled by high throughput screening using microarray analysis,comparing differential expression between early stage pancreatic cancer patients(n = 8) and healthy controls(n = 11).A panel of candidate microRNAs was generated based on the microarray signature profiling,including unsupervised clustering and statistical analysis of differential expression levels,and findings from the published literature.The selected candidate microRNAs were then confirmed using TaqMan real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) to further narrow down to a three-microRNA diagnostic panel.The three-microRNA diagnostic panel was validated with independent experimental proce-dures and instrumentation of RT-qPCR at an independent venue with a new cohort of cancer patients(n = 11),healthy controls(n = 11),and a group of high risk controls(n = 11).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic capability of the three-microRNA panel.RESULTS:In the initial high throughput screening,1220 known human microRNAs were screened for differential expression in pancreatic cancer patients versus controls.A subset of 42 microRNAs was then generated based on this data analysis and current published literature.Eight microRNAs were selected from the list of 42 targets for confirmation study,and three-microRNAs,miR-642b,miR-885-5p,and miR-22,were confirmed to show consistent expression between microarray and RT-qPCR.These three microRNAs were then validated and evaluated as a diagnostic panel with a new cohort of patients and controls and found to yield high sensitivity(91%) and specificity(91%) with an area under the curve of 0.97(P < 0.001).Compared to the CA19-9 marker at 73%,the three-microRNA panel has higher sensitivity although CA19-9 has higher specificity of 100%.CONCLUSION:The identified panel of three microRNA biomarkers can potentially be used as a diagnostic tool for early stage pancreatic cancer.

Advances in diagnosis, treatment and palliation of pancreatic carcinoma: 1990-2010

Several advances in genetics, diagnosis and palliation of pancreatic cancer (PC) have occurred in the last decades. A multidisciplinary approach to this disease is therefore recommended. PC is relatively common as it is the fourth leading cause of cancer related mortality. Most patients present with obstructive jaundice, epigastric or back pain, weight loss and anorexia. Despite improvements in diagnostic modalities, the majority of cases are still detected in advanced stages. The only curative treatment for PC remains surgical resection. No more than 20% of patients are candidates for surgery at the time of diagnosis and survival remains quite poor as adjuvant therapies are not very effective. A small percentage of patients with borderline non-resectable PC might benefit from neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy enabling them to undergo resection; however, randomized controlled studies are needed to prove the benefits of this strategy. Patients with unresectable PC benefit from palliative interventions such as biliary decompression and celiac plexus block. Further clinical trials to evaluate new chemo and radiation protocols as well as identification of genetic markers for PC are needed to improve the overall survival of patients affected by PC, as the current overall 5-year survival rate of patients affected by PC is still less than 5%. The aim of this article is to review the most recent high quality literature on this topic.

Pancreatic cancer diagnosis by free and exosomal miRNA

Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma(PaCa) have a dismal prognosis. This is in part due to late diagnosis prohibiting surgical intervention, which provides the only curative option as PaCa are mostly chemo- and radiation resistance. Hope is raised on a reliable noninvasive/minimally invasive diagnosis that is still missing. Recently two diagnostic options are discussed, serum MicroRNA(miRNA) and serum exosomes. Serum miRNA can be free or vesicle-, particularly, exosomesenclosed. This review will provide an overview on the current state of the diagnostic trials on free serum miRNA and proceed with an introduction of exosomes that use as a diagnostic tool in serum and other body fluids has not received sufficient attention, although serum exosome miRNA in combination with protein marker expression likely will increase the diagnostic and prognostic power. By their crosstalk with host cells, which includes binding-initiated signal transduction, as well as reprogramming target cells via the transfer of proteins, mRNA and miRNA exosomes are suggested to become a most powerful therapeutics. I will discuss which hurdles have still to be taken as well as the different modalities, which can be envisaged to make therapeutic use of exosomes. PaCa are known to most intensely crosstalk with the host as apparent by desmoplasia and frequent paraneoplastic syndromes. Thus, there is hope that the therapeutic application of exosomes brings about a major breakthrough.

Contribution of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to survival and quality of life in patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

The objective of this study was to analyze the current evidence for the use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) in affecting survival and quality of life in patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI). Systematic searches of the literature were performed using the PubMed database. Articles were selected for inclusion if they reported findings from trials assessing the effects of PERT on quality of life, survival, malabsorption, growth parameters (such as height, body weight and body mass index), or gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal pain, stool consistency and flatulence). PERT improved PEI-related malabsorption and weight maintenance in patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and post-surgical states. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, PERT improved PEI-related symptoms and quality of life measures. Several small retrospective studies have also suggested that PERT may have a positive impact on survival, but long-term studies assessing this effect were not identified. PERT is effective for treating malnutrition and supporting weight maintenance, and it is associated with improved quality of life and possibly with enhanced survival in patients with PEI. However, there is evidence that not all patients with PEI receive adequate PERT. Future work should aim to assess the long-term effects of PERT on the survival of patients with PEI.

Endosonography in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cysts

Rapid advances in radiologic technology and increased cross-sectional imaging have led to a sharp rise in incidental discoveries of pancreatic cystic lesions. These cystic lesions include non-neoplastic cysts with no risk of malignancy, neoplastic non-mucinous serous cystadenomas with little or no risk of malignancy, as well as neoplastic mucinous cysts and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms both with varying riskof malignancy. Accurate diagnosis is imperative as management is guided by symptoms and risk of malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) allows high resolution evaluation of cyst morphology and precise guidance for fine needle aspiration(FNA) of cyst fluid for cytological, chemical and molecular analysis. Initially, clinical evaluation and radiologic imaging, preferably with magnetic resonance imaging of the pancreas and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, are performed. In asymptomatic patients where diagnosis is unclear and malignant risk is indeterminate, EUSFNA should be used to confirm the presence or absence of high-risk features, differentiate mucinous from non-mucinous lesions, and diagnose malignancy. After analyzing the cyst fluid for viscosity, cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen, amylase, and cyst wall cytology should be obtained. DNA analysis may add useful information in diagnosing mucinous cysts when the previous studies are indeterminate. New molecular biomarkers are being investigated to improve diagnostic capabilities and management decisions in these challenging cystic lesions. Current guidelines recommend surgical pancreatic resection as the standard of care for symptomatic cysts and those with high-risk features associated with malignancy. EUSguided cyst ablation is a promising minimally invasive, relatively low-risk alternative to both surgery and surveillance.

Challenges in the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency(PEI) occurs when the insufficient secretion or function of pancreatic enzymes leads to maldigestion, most commonly as a result of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The condition is associated with significant morbidity and reductions in quality of life, even in milder forms. The challenges in approaching this condition include the non-specific presentation of mild to moderate PEI, and the lack of a convenient, accurate diagnostic test in this cohort. Classical symptoms appear late in the disease, and the diagnosis should be considered before steatorrhoea develops. Direct pancreatic function tests are the reference standard for diagnosis, but are invasive and not widely available. The faecal elastase-1(FE-1) stool test is widely available and has been shown to be as effective as the 13 C-mixed triglyceride breath test in more advanced disease. We recommend a pragmatic diagnostic approach that combines clinical history, assessment of nutritional status and measurement of FE-1. The critical first step is to consider the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy should be initiated. The variety of enzyme preparations and recommended dosing regimens can present a challenge when selecting an adequate initial dose. Non-response should be actively sought and addressed in a systematic manner. This article discusses these challenges, and presents a practical approach to the diagnosis and management of PEI.

Differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer by single-shot echo-planar imaging diffusion-weighted imaging

AIM: To investigate the diagnostic ability of single-shot echo-planar imaging(EPI) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to differentiate between malignant and benign pancreatic lesions. METHODS: A computerized search was performed on Pub Med, MEDLINE and EMBASE up to August 2014. Nine studies(10 sets of data) with a total of 304 malignant pancreatic lesions and 188 benign pancreatic lesions were included. The characteristics of each study included the study name, year of publication, magnetic resonance modalities used, patient population, strength of field, pulse time, repetition time, echo time(TE), maximum b factor, mean age, mean body weight, fat suppression, number of benign and malignant lesions, and true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative results. All analyses were performed using Meta-Di Sc and Stata 11.0.RESULTS: The pooled sensitivity and specificity of singleshot EPI DWI were 0.83(95%CI: 0.79-0.87) and 0.77(95%CI: 0.70-0.83), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 5.09(95%CI: 2.19-11.84) and 0.23(95%CI: 0.15-0.36), respectively. The P value for the χ2 heterogeneity for all pooled estimates was < 0.05. From the fitted summary receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve and Q* index were 0.89 and 0.82, respectively. Publication bias was not present(t = 0.58, P = 0.58). Meta-regression analysis indicated that fat suppression, mean age, TE, and maximum b factor were not sources of heterogeneity(all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Single-shot EPI DWI is useful to differentiate between malignant and benign pancreatic lesions. Lesion size ≥ 2 cm is the limit for the diagnosis of early lesions.