Objectives: The present study aimed to validate the new international guidelines for IPMN and determine the surgical criteria for patients with IPMN exhibiting high-risk stigmata (HRS). Methods: We enrolled 115 IPMN patients exhibiting HRS who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2021. Of the 115 patients, 79 underwent surgery (surgical group) and 36 did not undergo surgery (non-surgical group). The overall survival (OS) of each group was compared, and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with OS. Results: There was no significant difference in the estimated 5-year OS in the surgical and non-surgical groups (67% vs. 74%; p = 0.75). The presence of a solid component (SC) (hazard ratio [HR], 6.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.30-14.5) and a high score of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) (≥5) (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.11-4.64) were independent predictors of poor OS. In the presence of an SC, the surgical group had a significantly better OS than the non-surgical group (estimated 5-year OS, 38% vs. 18%; p = 0.031). In the absence of an SC, the prognosis of patients with a high ACCI was significantly poorer than those with a low ACCI in the surgical group (estimated 5-year OS, 59% vs. 93%; p = 0.005). Conclusions: An SC and a high ACCI are important prognostic factors in IPMN patients exhibiting HRS. Thus, patients with an SC should undergo surgical resection. However, conservative management may be the optimal treatment in patients without an SC and with a high ACCI.
Keywords: age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index; high-risk stigmata; intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm; solid component.