Lucia Calculli

Italian consensus guidelines for chronic pancreatitis

This paper gives practical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis. Statements have been elaborated by working teams of experts, by searching for and analysing the literature, and submitted to a consensus process by using a Delphi modified procedure. The statements report recommendations on clinical and nutritional approach, assessment of pancreatic function, treatment of exocrine pancreatic failure and of secondary diabetes, treatment of pain and prevention of painful relapses. Moreover, the role of endoscopy in approaching pancreatic pain, pancreatic stones, duct narrowing and dilation, and complications was considered. Recommendations for most appropriate use of various imaging techniques and of ultrasound endoscopy are reported. Finally, a group of recommendations are addressed to the surgical treatment, with definition of right indications, timing, most appropriate procedures and techniques in different clinical conditions and targets, and clinical and functional outcomes following surgery.

Italian consensus guidelines for the diagnostic work-up and follow-up of cystic pancreatic neoplasms.

This report contains clinically oriented guidelines for the diagnostic work-up and follow-up of cystic pancreatic neoplasms in patients fit for treatment. The statements were elaborated by working groups of experts by searching and analysing the literature, and then underwent a consensus process using a modified Delphi procedure. The statements report recommendations regarding the most appropriate use and timing of various imaging techniques and of endoscopic ultrasound, the role of circulating and intracystic markers and the pathologic evaluation for the diagnosis and follow-up of cystic pancreatic neoplasms.

Prognostic Factors in Periampullary and Pancreatic Tumor Resection in Elderly Patients

BackgroundMore than half of all patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma are over 70 years of age. Life expectancy for the elderly population is increasing and currently major pancreatic resection provides the only meaningful chance of cure for periampullary and pancreatic tumors. Controversy over what constitutes the correct treatment of these tumors in elderly patients continues to this day. The aim of our study was to determine whether age alone or age plus some prognostic factors constitute contraindications to major pancreatic resections.MethodsBetween 2000 and 2005, data from 88 consecutive patients who had major pancreatic resection for periampullary or pancreatic tumors were entered into a prospective database. Fifty-three patients under 70 years of age (young patients), and 35 patients 70 years of age or older (elderly patients) were compared with respect to several characteristics and the postoperative course.ResultsPostoperative mortality and morbidity, length of hospital stay, and long-term survival were similar in the two groups. In the elderly group, the mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the morbidity rate was significantly higher in patients with ASA 3 than in patients with ASA 1–2, in whom a pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy had been performed.ConclusionsAge alone is not a contraindication for major pancreatic resection. In elderly patients a careful evaluation of the co-morbidities and of the type of surgical procedure is mandatory in order to allow the proper selection of those patients best suited for surgery in specialized centers.

Total pancreatectomy: indications, operative technique, and results: a single centre experience and review of literature.

The aims of this study were to identify the indications to perform a total pancreatectomy and to evaluate the outcome and quality of life of the patient who underwent this operation. A retrospective analysis of a prospective database, regarding all the patients who underwent total pancreatectomy from January 2006 to June 2009, was carried out. Perioperative and outcome data were analyzed in two different groups: ductal adenocarcinoma (group 1) and non-ductal adenocarcinoma (group 2). Twenty (16.9%) total pancreatectomies out of 118 pancreatic resections were performed. Seven (35.0%) patients were affected by ductal adenocarcinoma (group 1) and the remaining 13 (65.0%) by pancreatic diseases different from ductal adenocarcinoma (group 2) [8 (61.5%) intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasms, 2 (15.4%) well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, 2 (15.4%) pancreatic metastases from renal cell cancer and, finally, 1 (7.7%) chronic pancreatitis]. Eleven patients (55%) underwent primary elective total pancreatectomy; nine (45%) had a completion pancreatectomy previous pancreaticoduodenectomy. Primary elective total pancreatectomy was significantly more frequent in group 2 than in group 1. Early and long-term postoperative results were good without significant difference between the two groups except for the disease-free survival that was significantly better in group 2. The follow-up examinations showed a good control of the apancreatic diabetes and of the exocrine insufficiency without differences between the two groups. In conclusion, currently, total pancreatectomy is a standardized and safe procedure that allows good early and late results. Its indications are increasing because of the more frequent diagnose of pancreatic disease that involved the whole gland as well as intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasm, neuroendocrine tumors and pancreatic metastases from renal cell cancer.

Are There Prognostic Factors Related to Recurrence in Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate, site, time of recurrence and prognostic factors related to the appearance of recurrences in patients affected by pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs). Methods: Data from 67 consecutive patients with PETs who underwent R0 resection were analyzed. The prognostic factors considered were: gender, age, type of tumor, presence of symptoms, size of tumor, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, WHO classification and adjuvant therapy. Results: The recurrence rate was 24.6%, with a mean time of 7.3 ± 4.5 years. The majority were in the liver (75% of cases) and were rarely local (25%). Univariate analysis of the prognostic factors showed that the risk of recurrences is significantly higher in PETs in MEN-1 syndrome, in tumor size ≧4 cm, in the presence of liver metastases, in TNM stages III–IV and, finally, in PD-Cas and WD-Cas. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that only MEN-1 syndrome and the WHO classification were independent predictors of an increased risk of recurrence. Conclusions: Several prognostic factors were related to recurrences in PETs. MEN-1 syndrome and the WHO classification can be considered independent factors of an increased risk of recurrence.

Familial pancreatic cancer in Italy. Risk assessment, screening programs and clinical approach: a position paper from the Italian Registry.

In Italy, pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of tumor related death with about 7000 new cases per year and a mortality rate of 95%. In a recent prospective epidemiological study on the Italian population, a family history was found in about 10% of patients suffering from a ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PDAC). A position paper from the Italian Registry for Familial Pancreatic Cancer was made to manage these high-risk individuals. Even though in the majority of high-risk individuals a genetic test to identify familial predisposition is not available, a screening protocol seems to be reasonable for subjects who have a >10-fold greater risk for the development of PDAC. However this kind of screening should be included in clinical trials, performed in centers with high expertise in pancreatic disease, using the least aggressive diagnostic modalities.

Consensus guidelines on severe acute pancreatitis

This Position Paper contains clinically oriented guidelines by the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas (AISP) for the diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis. The statements were formulated by three working groups of experts who searched and analysed the most recent literature; a consensus process was then performed using a modified Delphi procedure. The statements provide recommendations on the most appropriate definition of the complications of severe acute pancreatitis, the diagnostic approach and the timing of conservative as well as interventional endoscopic, radiological and surgical treatments.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Associated with Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), in contrast to other benign chronic pancreatic diseases, can be cured with immunosuppressant drugs, thus the differentiation of AIP from pancreatic cancer is of particular interest in clinical practice. There is the possibility that some patients with AIP may develop pancreatic cancer, and this possibility contributes to increasing our difficulties in differentiating AIP from pancreatic cancer. We herein report the case of a 70-year-old man in whom pancreatic adenocarcinoma and AIP were detected simultaneously. We must carefully monitor AIP patients for the simultaneous presence of pancreatic cancer, even when a diagnosis of AIP is confirmed.

Pancreatic and extrapancreatic lesions in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: a single-centre experience

PurposeThis study was performed to describe the possible presence of extrapancreatic neoplasms in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and to evaluate whether the extrapancreatic tumours were synchronous or metachronous to IPMNs.Materials and methodsOne hundred and forty-two patients (56 men and 86 women; mean age 69.5 years, range 37–98) with IPMN diagnosed using the Sendai criteria were enrolled. Six patients (4.2%) had type I, 103 (72.5%) type II and 33 (23.2%) type III IPMN. All patients were studied using the following imaging techniques: ultrasonography (US), multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).ResultsPancreatic IPMN was localised in the head in 43 patients (30.3%), in the body in 13 (9.2%), in the tail in ten (7.0%), in the head-body in 17 (12.0%), in the body-tail in 15 (10.6%) diffuse throughout the gland in 44 (31.0%). The mean size of the cystic lesions was [(mean±standard deviation (SD)] 1.9±1.9 cm (range 0.5–8.0 cm). Twenty patients (14.1%) had associated pancreatic or extrapancreatic diseases. In evaluating the distribution of pancreatic or extrapancreatic diseases according to IPMN type, we found that this was not significantly different among types I, II and III (p=0.776).ConclusionsThe majority of pancreatic and extrapancreatic cancers occur before the diagnosis of IPMNs is made and is not related to the type of IPMN.RiassuntoObiettivoObiettivo del nostro studio è stato descrivere la possibile associazione di neoplasie extrapancreatiche in pazienti con neoplasia intraduttale papillare mucinosa (NPI) ed inoltre valutare se le neoplasie extrapancreatiche associate sono tumori sincroni o metacroni alle NPI.Materiali e metodiSono stati studiati 142 pazienti con diagnosi di NPI utilizzando i criteri di Sendai; dei 142 pazienti, 56 erano maschi e 86 femmine; l’età media era di 69,5 anni (range 37–98) anni. Sei pazienti (4,2%) avevano una NPI di tipo I, 103 (72,5%) una NPI di tipo II e 33 (23,2%) avevano una NPI di tipo III. Tutti i pazienti sono stati studiati utilizzando le seguenti tecniche di imaging: ecografia (US), tomografia computerizzata multidetettore (MDCT) e colangiopancreatografia in risonanza magnetica (MRCP).RisultatiLa NPI era localizzata nella testa del pancreas in 43 pazienti (30,3%), nel corpo in 13 (9,2%), nella coda in 10 (7,0%), nella testa e nel corpo in 17 (12,0%), nel corpo-coda in 15 (10,6%) ed era diffusa a tutta la ghiandola in 44 (31,0%). La dimensione media della lesione cistica era (media±deviazione standard [DS]) 1,9±1,9 cm (range 0,5–8,0 cm). Venti pazienti (14,1%) avevano associata una malattia pancreatica ed extrapancreatica. La distribuzione delle varie malattie pancreatiche o extrapancreatiche era simile nelle NPI tipo I, II e III (p=0,776).ConclusioniLa maggior parte dei tumori pancreatici o extrapancreatici si manifesta prima della diagnosi di NPI e non è correlato al tipo di NPI.

Can pancreatic steatosis explain the finding of pancreatic hyperenzymemia in subjects with dyslipidemia

Objective: It has been proposed by some investigators that benign pancreatic hyperenzymemia could result from pancreatic steatosis that they believe would have been caused by dyslipidemia; their diagnosis of steatosis was based on the finding of a hyperechogenic pancreas at ultrasound. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of this proposed model. Methods: The study group was composed of 18 subjects with benign pancreatic hyperenzymemia, 12 men and 6 women; mean age, 55 years; range, 38 to 68 years. All 18 had dyslipidemia and 9 had hyperechogenic pancreas at ultrasound. In addition, 6 subjects with benign pancreatic hyperenzymemia but who did not have dyslipidemia or hyperechogenic pancreas and 10 healthy subjects with none of these conditions were also studied as controls. In each of these subjects, magnetic resonance imaging of the pancreas was performed to assess the presence of pancreatic steatosis. Results: Magnetic resonance imaging showed normal pancreas with no signs of fatty infiltration in all 18 subjects with dyslipidemia, including those with both dyslipidemia and hyperechogenic pancreas at ultrasound. A similar result was found in all control subjects. Conclusion: The finding of a completely normal pancreas at magnetic resonance imaging does not support the proposed model in which pancreatic hyperenzymemia in subjects with dyslipidemia is attributed to pancreatic steatosis.