Retrospective cohort study of long-term outcomes and risk of pancreatic cancer among patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are pancreatic cysts that can give rise to pancreatic cancer. A retrospective cohort study in Olmstedt County, Minnesota, investigated the population prevalence of IPMNs, the associated pancreatic cancer (PaC) risk, and proportion of malignant transformation of IPMNs to PaC. In this cohort study of 2114 participants aged 50 years or older, the prevalence of IPMNs on contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging was 10.9%, more than 80% of which were branch-duct IPMNs with no worrisome or high-risk features, and the risk of PaC and overall survival in patients with IPMNs without worrisome or high-risk features was similar to that of patients without IPMNs. Approximately 10% of PaCs arose from IPMNs, and patients with these cancers had better overall survival than patients with non-IPMN PaC.