Purpose of review: An increasing number of patients are being diagnosed with pancreatic cysts. Pancreatic cysts are best evaluated by a team of healthcare professionals that includes gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists and geneticists.
Recent findings: The international consensus guidelines for the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and mucinous cystic neoplasm were updated in 2012, incorporating research that had been reported over a 5-year span since the publication of the previous guidelines. There are significant changes in the new guidelines, which include redefining main duct IPMN and removing the recommendation for surgical resection based on size alone. In addition, the discovery of molecular markers of cyst type promises to revolutionize the way patients are diagnosed and managed.
Summary: The diagnosis and management of patients with pancreatic cysts have progressed significantly in recent years. Large prospective, multicenter trials are now needed to validate the new international consensus guidelines and to assess the accuracy of new molecular markers.