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Kaiser Permanente GI doing EUS procedure
I had an MRCP for my incidental finding of a pancreatic cyst of 13 mm a month ago . 18 months prior, the pancreatic cyst was 9 mm.
The MRCP reported Cystic focus of 13mm, No main duct dilation, No mural nodule. Nothing else on report.
I spoke with my GP and have a referral to see a GI who specializes in pancreas. I have the option of doing an EUS. I am concern that there may be side effects or complication such as infection and pancreatitis. Also wondering if it really takes a lot of skills to do an EUS.
Should I have the EUS?
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@sloped483 I have had EUSs before. Your word "uneventful " is a good word to describe them. Hopefully, yours will be the same.
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1 ReactionI had my EUS done @ Mayo, Jacksonville. The staff was great! It does take a skilled doctor to do it and the test went very well. I went home (a 2.5-hour drive) after I woke from the anesthesia.
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2 Reactions@sloped483 I had my consultation for almost 40 minutes . Found out that my MRI/CT scans had an 8 mm pancreatic cyst from 2019 to 2023. Then in 2025, it showed 1.3 cm cyst. GI thinks it may be side branch IPMN. Wanted to recommend MRCP in two years. I was concern about it being this long as I had no change for 4 years and then from 8 mm to 13 mm in 2 1/2 years. He said he would offer me EUS and I asked if it could just be EUS without FNE. He didn't want to be restricted but agreed to my wishes. Long story short, I will have another MRCP in December 2025 or January 2026 the latest. Once he reads the MRCP results, I will have an EUS in March or April 2026. If there is change to Pancreatic cyst size and worrisome features found, it would be an earlier EUS with FNE. He said he was the only Pancreatic specialist who does EUS at Kaiser hospital ( My HMO) and said he had done 1000 or so EUS. Do you think he is considered experience? He did say there are a small number of people who end up with pancreatitis after having the EUS done. That doesn't sound good so I am fearful.
What I didn't like was after the MRCP in December or January 2026 and the EUS with or without FNE, the surveillance would be 2 years unless he finds worrisome features.
@lpaelevated4, I think a 40 minute consultation is good and that the doctor has done a 1000 EUS's. No one knows who will or won't get pancreatitis. It's the luck of the draw. But to be honest, a 1.3 cm cyst might not have enough juice to biopsy and is pretty much is where I'm at with mine. So if a FNA isn't done I would try and not stress. The good news is that you are being monitored. If it would help alleviate some of your stress then perhaps you can talk to your doctor about a year follow up instead of two years. I get an MRCP with contrast every year for the past 4 years. I'm a little concerned about having contrast every year, but it is what it is.