title: Features associated with progression of small pancreatic cystic lesions: A retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the progression rate of small pancreatic cystic lesions and identify characteristics associated with their progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with pancreatic cystic lesions with at least 1-year of follow-up were evaluated retrospectively. We excluded patients with cysts larger than 3 cm or with features that were a concern for malignancy. In total, 135 patients were evaluated. The interval progression of the cysts was examined. Characteristics were compared between patients with and without progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pancreatic cysts ranged from 3 to 29 mm. The mean follow-up period was 4.5 ± 2.3 years and the mean progression rate was 1.0 ± 1.3 mm/year. Ninety patients showed interval progression and were divided into two groups; the minimal-change group (n = 41), who had cyst progression at less than 1 mm/year, and the progression group (n = 49), who had a progression rate of more than 1 mm/year. Compared with the cysts without progression, the lesions of the progression group were more frequently associated with tubular cyst, septation or a prominent pancreatic duct (P < 0.05). The odds ratio for progression was 5.318 for septation and 4.582 for tubular cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small pancreatic cysts progress slowly. Lesions with tubular shape, septa, or prominent pancreatic duct were more likely to progress, and required further diagnostic intervention or shorter surveillance interval.
authors.affiliation: Hong-Ming Tsai, Yi-Sheng Liu, Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hong-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Hong-Ming Tsai, Yi-Sheng Liu, Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiao-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Hong-Ming Tsai, Yi-Sheng Liu, Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yan-Shen
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Hong-Ming Tsai, Yi-Sheng Liu, Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Hong-Ming Tsai, Yi-Sheng Liu, Department of Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiung-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cystic lesion; Imaging features; Observation; Pancreas; Progression