Objectives: The risk factors correlated with the post-operative recurrence of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas are not well established. The aim was to determine the risk factors of recurrence.
Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the differences of clinicopathologic features between the recurrence and nonrecurrence groups of patients with IPMN who underwent surgical resection and analyzed the recurrence-related factors.
Results: A total of 103 patients were confirmed to have IPMNs. The mean postoperative follow-up was 3.2 years, and the recurrence rate was 12.6%. Recurrent cases (n=13) had the following pathologic grades: adenoma, 1; and invasive carcinoma, 12. The mean postoperative survival was 17.0 months in the recurrence group and 41.4 months in the nonrecurrence group (P<0.001). The independent risk factors of recurrence were invasive carcinoma (P=0.017, hazard ratio=71.79; 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.13-2417.05), elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (P=0.007, hazard ratio=37.97, 95% CI=2.66-542.32), and main location in the pancreatic head (P=0.038, hazard ratio=0.16, 95% CI=0.03-0.90).
Conclusions: The risk factors associated with recurrence of IPMNs were invasive pathology, elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and main location in the pancreatic head. A more careful follow-up is needed for such patients.