Early Cancerous Lesions of the Pancreas and Ampulla: Current Concepts and Challenges

Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2024 Mar;53(1):57-84. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2023.11.004. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Abstract

Owing to the increased use of advanced imaging techniques, mass-forming (cystic/intraductal) preinvasive neoplasms are being detected much more frequently and they have rapidly become one of the main focuses of interests in medical field. These neoplasms have very distinctive clinical and radiographic findings, exhibit a spectrum of dysplastic transformation, from low-grade dysplasia to high-grade dysplasia, and may be associated with an invasive carcinoma. Accounting for about 5% to 10% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, they provide a curable target subset in an otherwise biologically dismal pancreas cancer category.

Keywords: Ampulla; IAPN; IOPN; IPMN; ITPN; MCN; PanIN; Pancreas.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal* / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Pancreas
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging