Recurrence of non-invasive intraductal papillary municious neoplasm seven years following total pancreatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm is an increasingly recognized disease with varying premalignant potential and unclear incidence, characterized by a mucin-producing epithelium and dilation of the pancreatic duct. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present the first documented case of distant intestinal intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm recurrence following total pancreatectomy for side-branch non-invasive borderline malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. DISCUSSION: We review the current literature in order to try and answer important questions regarding our ability to predict intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm recurrence, our understanding of the potential for recurrence and what follow-up should be recommended to properly monitor recurrence after a benign, albeit borderline malignant, side-branch lesion resection.
CONCLUSION: Our case report confirms that the low risk classification of an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm lesion even after total pancreatectomy does not always predict recurrence and that definitive prognostic factors of recurrence in the setting of non-invasive disease have yet to be identified. A vigilant long-term approach to follow-up may thus be required even in low risk cases.