In a prospective multicentric study newly published in Endoscopy (CONTACT 1), Napoléon et al. have discovered a new diagnostic criterion specific for benign pancreatic cysts and invisible with other imaging technologies.

Among patients in the study, the presence of a specific superficial vascular network was identified and shown to be 69% sensitive and 100% specific for benign serous cystadenomas (SCA). 

Using specific markers, the presence of a diffuse and homogeneous capillary network was confirmed by expert pathologists in this type of lesions. In the 69% of patients with benign cysts where this vascular network was observed using the Cellvizio endomicroscopy technology, fully 100% were confirmed to have benign cysts.

“The ability to visualize this network with Cellvizio means we can now consider this as a criterion for diagnosis with the potential to avoid unnecessary surgeries or follow-up procedures for many patients,” said Dr. Bertrand Napoléon, head of endoscopy at Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz in Lyon and the principal investigator of the study. 

Napoléon B. et al. A novel approach to the diagnosis of pancreatic serous cystadenoma: needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy. Endoscopy 2014 http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1055/s-0034-1390693