IPMN

Brief description:

Cysts in the pancreas are common, but a particular type of cyst called intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) have up to a 25% risk over 10 years of developing into cancer of the pancreas. IPMN with high-risk characteristics require monitoring with scans and sometimes major surgery is recommended to prevent an invasive pancreatic cancer developing. This is similar to removing bowel polyps found in the Bowel Screening Programme to prevent them becoming malignant.

However, some patients with high-risk IMPN are not fit enough for a major pancreatic operation, and some patients may not want to have this, so an effective alternative is very attractive.

Recent studies overseas have shown that injection of chemotherapy into the cyst through an endoscope inserted into the stomach can destroy these IMPN cysts in the majority of people, usually with long-lasting effects. This study will evaluate the feasibility, success rate and safety of doing this procedure in endoscopy units in two major NZ hospitals. We hope that this procedure can reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, rather than trying to treat it once it has occurred.