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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
DIPLOMA Approach for Standardized Pathology Assessment of Distal Pancreatectomy Specimens
Published on: February 1, 2020
Either High or Low Risk: The Acinar Score at the Resection Margin Dichotomizes the Risk Spectrum of Pancreas-specific
Giampaolo Perri1, Giovanni Marchegiani1, Stefano Partelli2
1Department of General and Pancreatic Surgery, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Background:
Pancreatic acinar content (Ac) has been associated with pancreas-specific complications after pancreatoduodenectomy. The aim of this study was to improve the prediction ability of intraoperative risk stratification by integrating the pancreatic acinar score.
Methods:
A training and validation cohort underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with a subsequent histologic assessment of pancreatic section margins for Ac, fibrosis (Fc), and fat. Intraoperative risk stratification (pancreatic texture, duct diameter) and pancreas-specific complications (postoperative hyperamylasemia [POH], postpancreatectomy acute pancreatitis [PPAP], pancreatic fistula [POPF]) were classified according to ISGPS definitions.
Results:
In the validation cohort (n= 373), the association of pancreas-specific complications with higher Ac and lower Fc was replicated (all P <0.001). In the entire cohort (n= 761), the ISGPS classification allocated 275 (36%) patients into intermediate-risk classes B (POH 32%/PPAP 3%/POPF 17%) and C (POH 36%/PPAP 9%/POPF 33%). Using the acinar score (Ac ≥60% and/or Fc ≤10%), intermediate-risk patients could be dichotomized into a low-risk (POH 5%/PPAP 1%/POPF 6%) and a high-risk (POH 51%/PPAP 9%/POPF 38%) group (all P <0.001). The acinar score AUC for POPF prediction was 0.70 in the ISGPS intermediate-risk classes. Overall, 239 (31%) patients were relocated into the high-risk group from lower ISGPS risk classes using the acinar score.
Conclusions:
The risk of pancreas-specific complications appears to be dichotomous-either high or low-according to the acinar score, a tool to better target the application of mitigation strategies in cases of intermediate macroscopic features.
