VOLUME 56, NO. 5, 2002 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 701
Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor (IPMT) of
the pancreas is increasingly recognized as a clinical
entity since its initial description as a “mucous
secreting pancreatic cancer” by Ohhashi et al.
1
in
1982. IPMT is a polypoid tumor that characteristi-
cally produces dilation of the main pancreatic duct
or its branches, filling defects evident by endoscopic
retrograde pancreatography (ERP) corresponding to
mucin globules, and swelling of the papilla as a
result of excessive intraductal secretion of mucin.
1
These features encompass a wide spectrum of
histopathologic disorders ranging from hyperplasia
to invasive cancer.
2-4
Because of similarities to
mucinous cystic neoplasm including mucin produc-
tion and similar epithelial cytopathology, IPMT was
grouped under the term mucin-producing pancreat-
ic tumor.
2
However, there is growing evidence that
IPMT is a separate entity. It is distinct from pancre-
atic adenocarcinoma in its intraductal growth, ERP
features, and favorable prognosis.
5,6
Hence, clinical
recognition of IPMT is important for appropriate
management of patients.
The most frequent presenting symptom of IPMT
is upper abdominal pain and occurs in 45% to 100%
of patients,
5-8
with more than half of these patients
having elevated levels of serum amylase and/or
lipase.
9
Episodes of pancreatitis have also been
reported (30%-85% patients).
5,6
Pain and pancreati-
tis are both thought to be caused by mucin-induced
obstruction of the pancreatic duct (PD).
8,10
Transabdominal US and CT, often used in the evalu-
ation of patients with these manifestations, demon-
strate nonspecific abnormalities
11
and hence the
diagnosis may be overlooked for long periods of time.
EUS is being used increasingly in the evaluation
of patients with abdominal pain, especially pain
thought to be of pancreatic or biliary origin. It is also
used for the diagnosis of recurrent and chronic pan-
creatitis (CP).
12
A role for EUS in IPMT has not been
established.
13
However, EUS is minimally invasive
and if effective in detecting IPMT it may be an alter-
native to ERP in the initial evaluation of patients.
ERP, which is invasive and has a high risk-benefit
ratio when used to evaluate patients with recurrent
Received July 3, 2001. For revision October 31, 2001. Accepted
May 29, 2002.
Current affiliations: Digestive Disease Center and Department of
Biostatistics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston,
South Carolina.
Reprint requests: Brenda J. Hoffman, MUSC Digestive Disease
Center, 96 Jonathan Lucas St., Suite 210 CSB, Charleston, SC
29425.
Copyright © 2002 by the American Society for Gastrointestinal
Endoscopy 0016-5107/2002/$35.00 + 0 37/1/128542
doi:10.1067/mge.2002.128542
Accuracy of EUS for detection of intraductal papillary
mucinous tumor of the pancreas
Guruprasad P. Aithal, MD, MRCP, PhD, Robert Y. M. Chen, MD, FRACP, John T. Cunningham, MD,
Valerie Durkalski, PhD, MPH, Eun Y. Kim, MD, Rig S. Patel, MD, Michael B. Wallace, MD, MSPH,
Robert H. Hawes, MD, Brenda J. Hoffman, MD
Charleston, South Carolina
Background: Patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas (IPMT) present
with symptoms similar to those of chronic pancreatitis. This study assessed the accuracy of EUS
for detection of IPMT and identified features that discriminate IPMT from chronic pancreatitis.
Methods: EUS accuracy for detecting IPMT was determined with characteristic findings by endo-
scopic retrograde pancreatography as the reference standard.To determine EUS features charac-
teristic of IPMT, EUS images from patients with IPMT were compared with those from patients
(similar age, gender) with chronic pancreatitis.
Results: Thirty-eight patients (23 men, 15 women; age range 40-90 years) with IPMT were identi-
fied between 1994 and 2001. For EUS, the sensitivity was 86%, specificity 99%, positive predictive
value 78%, and negative predictive value 99% for detection of IPMT.When compared with patients
with chronic pancreatitis, the EUS features of dilation of pancreatic duct (89% vs. 42%, p < 0.0001),
cysts (45% vs. 11%, p = 0.002), and pancreatic atrophy (32% vs. 3%, p = 0.002) were more common,
whereas parenchymal features of chronic pancreatitis were less common with IPMT (21% vs. 97%,
p < 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, the presence of no more than one parenchymal feature of
chronic pancreatitis suggested the diagnosis of IPMT (odds ratio 43.84; 95% CI [4.13, 465.74]).
Conclusions: EUS may be useful in the initial evaluation of patients suspected to have IPMT.
Paucity of parenchymal features of chronic pancreatitis is important in differentiating IPMT from
other causes of chronic pancreatitis. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;56:701-7.)