Pancreatic Cancer Screening for At-Risk Individuals (Pancreas Scan Study): Yield, Harms, and Outcomes From a...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Oncology
• Medical Genetics

Background:

• Guidelines recommend pancreatic cancer screening for individuals with a genetic predisposition.
• Determining the yield and safety of pancreatic cancer screening is crucial for at-risk populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the yield, harms, and outcomes of pancreatic cancer screening in genetically susceptible individuals.
• To assess the frequency of low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk lesions detected during screening.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, multicenter study enrolled 252 high-risk individuals from 2020-2022.
• Screening involved annual endoscopic ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, plus fasting blood sugar tests.
• Pancreas findings were categorized into low, intermediate, or high-risk lesions.

Main Results:

• High-risk lesions were detected in 0.8% of patients, with two diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
• Intermediate-risk lesions (mostly branch-duct IPMN) were found in 31.7%, and low-risk lesions in 23.4%.
• No adverse events occurred during screening, and no patients underwent unnecessary pancreatic surgery.

Conclusions:

• Pancreatic cancer screening in this cohort yielded high-risk lesions less frequently than previously reported.
• The screening protocol demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no observed harms.