Yes, I still have the IPMN and it is surveilled twice a year by MRI. There is no treatment for shrinking IPM’s…it shrank on its own. It is a BD-IPMN and impossible to biopsy as it is too small and inaccessible. It is causing no issue. To try and biopsy it could result in acute pancreatitis which if it develops to chronic pancreatitis- a known risk factor of developing pancreatic cancer. So the risks far out way any benefit.

IPMN’s were only first discovered in the early 1980’s as a result of imaging by CT scan which was introduced in 1979. IPMN’s are generally found as a result of imaging for an unrelated issue. It turns out many people are unaware they have them including those that received a CT scan. I have five older friends that had abdominal CT or MRI done for issues more related to the intestine and there on the report was noted an IPMN. All were unaware an IPMN was found. Their GI specialist never pointed it out. So the first question I asked each of the five was if there was pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer in the family. Only one had history of pancreatic cancer (her Mother passed from it in her early 50’s).

I arranged an appointment for her with a noted MD in NYC who was a geneticist specializing in this area. Genetic testing was done and it was found she had a Lynch syndrome mutation. That finding led to other family members being tested to assess their risk for colon cancer.

For the first year she was surveilled at 6 month intervals. After that she was checked yearly and now it is recommended every two years. No change has been observed in five years of surveillance. It’s location, appearance and no growth does not warrant biopsy or other aggressive action.

Jump to this post