title: Long-term outcome of cystic lesions in the pancreas: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The management guidelines for cystic lesions of the pancreas (CLPs) are not yet well established. This study was performed to document the long-term clinical outcome of CLPs and provide guidelines for the management and surveillance of CLPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, an additional follow-up was performed in 112 patients with CLPs enrolled from 1998 to 2004 during a previous study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During follow-up for the median period of 72.3 months, the size of the CLPs increased in 18 patients (16.1%). Six of these patients experienced growth of their CLPs after 5 years of follow-up. Twenty-six patients underwent surgery during follow-up, and four malignant cysts were detected. The overall rate of malignant progression during follow-up was 3.6%. The presence of mural nodules or solid components was independently associated with the presence of malignant CLPs. Seven patients underwent surgery after 5 years of follow-up. The pathologic findings revealed malignancies in two patients. There was only one pancreas-related death during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of CLPs exhibit indolent behavior and are associated with a favorable prognosis. However, long-term surveillance for more than 5 years should be performed because of the potential for growth and malignant transformation in CLPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sang Hyub
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jaihwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jin-Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Ji Kon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yong-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun-Whe
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yoon