Background: Several guidelines for the management of cystic pancreatic lesions (CPL) exists. From 2013, Oslo University Hospital adapted the European consensus guidelines (ECG) in the decision-making as to whether patients should be advised to have resection or observation for CPL. The aims of the study were to assess changes over time in the workup and diagnostic accuracy of resected CPL, and the short-term surgical outcome. Methods: Preoperative radiological workup, clinicopathological characteristics, and perioperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed in three consecutive time periods (early: 2004-2008, intermediate: 2009-2012, late: 2013-2016). The rate of concordance between the ECG recommendations for resection (ECG+) or observation (ECG-) and the final histological diagnosis were assessed. Results: A total of 322 consecutive patients underwent resection for CPL (early: n = 89, intermediate: n = 108, late: n = 125). The most common diagnoses were intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN, 36.0%), serous cystic neoplasm (SCN, 23.9%), mucinous cystic neoplasm (10.6%), pseudocyst (9.6%), solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (7.8%), and cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (5.3%). The proportion of ECG+ CPL undergoing surgery increased significantly (42.7% vs. 60.7% vs. 70.4%, p < .001). The relative proportion of patients undergoing resection for SCN decreased (38.2% vs. 21.3% vs. 16.0%), whereas it increased for IPMN (31.5% vs. 30.6% vs. 44.0%). The use of magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasound increased. There were no differences in postoperative severe complications (23.0% vs. 23.6%) or 90-day mortality (2.3% vs. 0.8%) between ECG+ and ECG- patients. Conclusion: Several changes in the management of CPL were revealed during time. Adherence to guidelines is important in order to avoid unnecessary surgery for CPL.
Keywords: cystic pancreatic lesion; guidelines; pancreatic surgery.