Objectives: The objectives of the study were to define the natural history of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) without high-risk stigmata (HRS) and to identify factors capable of influencing outcome and management.
Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients affected by IPMNs without HRS. Survival analyses included overall survival, disease-specific survival, and years of life lost. Uni- and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify factors capable of predicting years of life lost.
Results: Three hundred fifty-six patients were analyzed. Fifty-three patients (14.9%) died: no postoperative mortality, 6 (1.7%) patients from pancreatic cancer and 47 (13.2%) from reasons not related to the disease. Mean overall survival and disease-specific survival were 199.4 (SD, 16.6) and 281 months (SD, 6.9), respectively. The years of life lost of the sample observed with respect to the general population were 2 years and 3 months (15 years and 3 months vs 17 years and 6 months). Younger age, length of follow-up more than 3 years, and surgery significantly increased the years of life lost.
Conclusions: The patients affected by IPMNs without HRS rarely died from the disease. Young age (<65 years) and follow-up more than 3 years seemed to be the only factors capable of influencing the outcome and management.