Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2017; 05(02): E116-E122
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-118703
Original article
Eigentümer und Copyright ©Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2017

Evaluation of AGA and Fukuoka Guidelines for EUS and surgical resection of incidental pancreatic cysts

Alexander Lee
1   Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dallas, Texas, United States
,
Vivek Kadiyala
2   Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of Gastroenteriology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Linda S. Lee
3   Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

submitted 17 June 2016

accepted after revision 04 October 2016

Publication Date:
13 February 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Objectives Management of asymptomatic pancreatic cysts is challenging. Guidelines by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and International Association of Pancreatology (Fukuoka) seek to identify high-risk patients. We assessed performance of these guidelines in selecting patients for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and/or surgery.

Methods PART I – We retrospectively studied 143 asymptomatic cysts with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by EUS. Appropriate selection for EUS was defined as: malignant cytology or surgical pathology, or development of concerning features on MRI as defined by the guidelines. PART II – We retrospectively studied 152 resected cysts to assess the performance of guidelines in selecting cysts for surgery using malignant histology as the outcome.

Results PART I – Of 143 EUS, 43 (30.1 %) were male with median age 65.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 58.0 – 73.0). AGA guideline demonstrated lower sensitivity (17.6 % versus 35.3 %, P = 0.03), higher specificity (94.5 % versus 66.1 %, p < 0.001), and higher accuracy (76.2 % versus 58.7 %, P = 0.002) than Fukuoka. There was no difference in positive predictive value (50.0 % versus 24.5 %, P = 0.15) and negative predictive value (78.6 % versus 76.6 %, p=0.75). PART II – Of 152 resected cysts, 45 (29.8 %) were male with median age 59.0 years (IQR 47.3 – 66.7). There was no difference in performance characteristics of the guidelines in selecting cysts for surgery. AGA and Fukuoka guidelines missed 25.0 % and 18.8 % of malignant cysts, respectively (P = 1.00).

Conclusions For referral to EUS, the AGA guideline was highly specific compared to Fukuoka; both suffered from poor sensitivity, although the Fukuoka guideline was relatively more sensitive than AGA. For referral to surgery, both guidelines have modest sensitivity and specificity and miss a similar percentage of malignant lesions.