BACKGROUND/AIMS : The optimal duration and interval of follow-up for cystic lesions of the pancreas (CLPs) is not well established. This study was performed to investigate the optimal duration and interval of follow-up for CLPs in clinical practice.

METHODS : Patients with CLPs without worrisome features or high-risk stigmata underwent follow-up with computed tomography at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months and then every 12 months thereafter. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed.

RESULTS : A total of 227 patients with CLPs detected from 2000 to 2008 (mean initial diameter, 1.3±0.6 cm) underwent follow-up for a median of 120 months. Twenty-two patients (9.7%) underwent surgery after a median of 47.5 months. Malignancies developed in four patients (1.8%), one within 5 years and three within 10 years. One hundred and fourteen patients (50.2%) were followed up for more than 10 years. No malignancy developed after 10 years of follow-up. During surveillance, 37 patients (16.3%) experienced progression to surgical indication. In patients with CLPs less than 2 cm in diameter, development of surgical indications did not occur within 24 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS : CLPs should be continuously monitored after 5 years because of the persistent potential for malignant transformation of CLPs. An interval of 24 months for initial follow-up might be enough for CLPs with initial size of less than 2 cm in clinical practice.