Outcomes of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with "Sendai-positive" criteria for resection undergoing non-operative management.

BACKGROUND: There are few data on the outcome of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas meeting criteria for resection (Sendai-positive), and not operated. AIM: To evaluate outcome of patients with a resectable, Sendai-positive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, and not operated. METHODS: Multicentre, retrospective analysis of prospectively enrolled patients, with resectable Sendai-positive, not-operated intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Overall-survival and disease-specific survival were the primary end-point, and progression-free survival secondary. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (60\% male, median age 77) enrolled: 40\% main-duct, 60\% branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. In 19 patients surgery was ruled out due to comorbidities, in 7 because aged>80, 9 refused surgery. Twelve (34.3\%) patients died after a mean of 32.5 months, 8 due to disease progression, 4 due to comorbidities. The median overall, disease-specific and progression-free survival were 52, 55, and 44 months respectively. Main duct involvement and age at diagnosis were associated with worse overall and progression-free survival, only main duct involvement with worse disease-specific survival (52 months main duct vs. 64 branch duct; P=0.04). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in elderly and comorbid patients with Sendai-positive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, especially of the branch duct, a conservative approach could be reasonable, as associated with a relatively good outcome, and should be carefully discussed with the patients.