Transabdominal Ultrasound Shows Promise in Monitoring Pancreatic Lesions

Transabdominal ultrasound is a valuable tool for monitoring cystic pancreatic lesions, which can be challenging to characterize due to their diverse nature and potential for malignancy. While endoscopic ultrasound is the established reference method, this study explores the diagnostic accuracy and suitability of transabdominal ultrasound for monitoring these lesions.

In a retrospective analysis, patients with cystic pancreatic lesions who underwent both endoscopic and transabdominal ultrasound were studied. The findings revealed that transabdominal ultrasound detected cystic lesions in 85.7% of cases compared to endoscopic ultrasound. Factors like patient BMI, age, and lesion diameter influenced the detectability of cystic lesions by transabdominal ultrasound.

The study developed a clinical algorithm based on patient and lesion-specific parameters to identify suitable candidates for cystic lesion monitoring via transabdominal ultrasound. This algorithm showed a high detection rate of 97.6% for selected patients with specific criteria, indicating the potential of transabdominal ultrasound as a cost-effective and patient-friendly imaging method.

However, further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the utility and limitations of transabdominal ultrasound as an alternative surveillance method for low-risk cystic pancreatic lesions. The study acknowledges its limitations, such as the retrospective design and moderate sample size, highlighting the need for larger, multicenter trials to validate these findings and optimize cystic lesion monitoring strategies.