Prevalence of incidentally detected pancreatic cysts on magnetic resonance imaging in an adult population in Latin America.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of incidentally detected pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) in adult patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and methods: We included radiological records of consecutive adult patients who underwent MRI at our institution during a one-year period (January to December of 2023). We collected clinical and radiological data, including the presence or absence of cysts in the liver and kidneys.

Results: A total of 1,211 MRI records were included. We identified PCLs in 138 patients, corresponding to a prevalence of 11.4%. That prevalence was 9.51% in men and 12.52% in women (p = 0.112). The patients with incidental PCLs (64.57 ± 13.15) were significantly older than were those without (mean age, 64.57 ± 13.15 years vs. 51.01 ± 15.27 years; p < 0.001). Of the 138 patients with PCLs, 53 (38.41%) had at least one liver cyst and 83 (60.14%) had at least one kidney cyst. In 69 patients (50.0%), the radiological diagnosis of the incidental cysts was intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. In the univariate analysis, the presence of PCLs was associated with age, liver cysts, and kidney cysts, although it was associated with only age and kidney cysts in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: In our study sample, the prevalence of incidentally detected PCLs was 11.4%. That prevalence increased significantly with age but did not differ by sex.