Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology

Background and Aims: Diagnosing early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN), remains challenging. Serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE) using an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube has demonstrat...

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Main Authors: Soma Fukuda, MD, Susumu Hijioka, MD, PhD, Kohei Okamoto, MD, Shin Yagi, MD, Mark Chatto, MD, Yutaka Saito, MD, PhD, Takuji Okusaka, MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:VideoGIE
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468448125000360
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author Soma Fukuda, MD
Susumu Hijioka, MD, PhD
Kohei Okamoto, MD
Shin Yagi, MD
Mark Chatto, MD
Yutaka Saito, MD, PhD
Takuji Okusaka, MD, PhD
author_facet Soma Fukuda, MD
Susumu Hijioka, MD, PhD
Kohei Okamoto, MD
Shin Yagi, MD
Mark Chatto, MD
Yutaka Saito, MD, PhD
Takuji Okusaka, MD, PhD
author_sort Soma Fukuda, MD
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aims: Diagnosing early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN), remains challenging. Serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE) using an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube has demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, but its application in surgically altered anatomy is technically demanding. We present a case in which balloon enteroscopy-assisted SPACE led to the diagnosis of HG-PanIN and successful resection. Methods: A 70-year-old man with a history of distal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer underwent follow-up imaging, which revealed localized main pancreatic duct (MPD) stricture and parenchymal atrophy in the pancreatic tail. EUS identified a faint hypoechoic area around the stricture, but no distinct mass. EUS-guided tissue acquisition was inconclusive. Double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde pancreatography was performed, revealing MPD stricture and distal dilation. A 5F endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube was placed across the stricture, and SPACE was conducted. Results: Twelve pancreatic juice cytology samples were aspirated every 2 to 3 hours over 3 days, each exceeding 1 mL. One sample (10th) was classified as Class IV, “suspicious for adenocarcinoma,” with cytology revealing nuclear enlargement and atypia. The patient was diagnosed preoperatively with pancreatic cancer (TisN0M0 stage 0) and underwent distal pancreatectomy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathology confirmed HG-PanIN of the MPD. The patient had no postoperative adverse events and remained recurrence-free at the 9-month follow-up. Conclusions: This case highlights the effectiveness of balloon enteroscopy-assisted SPACE in diagnosing HG-PanIN in surgically altered anatomy. However, given the relatively high risk of pancreatitis, SPACE should be reserved for patients with imaging or clinical findings suggestive of malignancy. By overcoming technical obstacles, this method offers a promising diagnostic strategy for early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in surgically altered anatomy.
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spelling doaj-art-a4254cd33bc44bfcb88d03c3e965629d2025-08-20T03:09:45ZengElsevierVideoGIE2468-44812025-06-0110630230610.1016/j.vgie.2025.02.006Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytologySoma Fukuda, MD0Susumu Hijioka, MD, PhD1Kohei Okamoto, MD2Shin Yagi, MD3Mark Chatto, MD4Yutaka Saito, MD, PhD5Takuji Okusaka, MD, PhD6Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Corresponding author: Susumu Hijioka, MD, PhD, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Medicine, Makati Medical Center, Manila, PhilippinesEndoscopy Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, JapanBackground and Aims: Diagnosing early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, particularly high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN), remains challenging. Serial pancreatic juice aspiration cytologic examination (SPACE) using an endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube has demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, but its application in surgically altered anatomy is technically demanding. We present a case in which balloon enteroscopy-assisted SPACE led to the diagnosis of HG-PanIN and successful resection. Methods: A 70-year-old man with a history of distal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer underwent follow-up imaging, which revealed localized main pancreatic duct (MPD) stricture and parenchymal atrophy in the pancreatic tail. EUS identified a faint hypoechoic area around the stricture, but no distinct mass. EUS-guided tissue acquisition was inconclusive. Double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted endoscopic retrograde pancreatography was performed, revealing MPD stricture and distal dilation. A 5F endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage tube was placed across the stricture, and SPACE was conducted. Results: Twelve pancreatic juice cytology samples were aspirated every 2 to 3 hours over 3 days, each exceeding 1 mL. One sample (10th) was classified as Class IV, “suspicious for adenocarcinoma,” with cytology revealing nuclear enlargement and atypia. The patient was diagnosed preoperatively with pancreatic cancer (TisN0M0 stage 0) and underwent distal pancreatectomy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathology confirmed HG-PanIN of the MPD. The patient had no postoperative adverse events and remained recurrence-free at the 9-month follow-up. Conclusions: This case highlights the effectiveness of balloon enteroscopy-assisted SPACE in diagnosing HG-PanIN in surgically altered anatomy. However, given the relatively high risk of pancreatitis, SPACE should be reserved for patients with imaging or clinical findings suggestive of malignancy. By overcoming technical obstacles, this method offers a promising diagnostic strategy for early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in surgically altered anatomy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468448125000360
spellingShingle Soma Fukuda, MD
Susumu Hijioka, MD, PhD
Kohei Okamoto, MD
Shin Yagi, MD
Mark Chatto, MD
Yutaka Saito, MD, PhD
Takuji Okusaka, MD, PhD
Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology
VideoGIE
title Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology
title_full Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology
title_fullStr Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology
title_short Diagnosing high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology
title_sort diagnosing high grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia in surgically altered anatomy using pancreatic juice cytology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468448125000360
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