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Checks fat in the pancreas and its link to pancreatic cysts

Uses MRI to measure fat in the pancreas and liver in adults with pancreatic cysts.

Key facts

Who runs it
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Where
Shatin, Hong KongSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Determination of Pancreatic Steatosis Prevalence and Correlation With High-risk Cyst Features
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
236 people, planned
Started
6 Apr 2022
Expected to end
30 Apr 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • MRI for pancreatic fat and liver fat quantitation
Record updated
27 October 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with at least one pancreatic cyst thought to be IPMN or MCN, or healthy volunteers. It studies fat in the pancreas and its link to high-risk cyst features.

Age
18 years or older
Sex
All sexes can join
Disease stage
At least 1 pancreatic cyst presumed to be IPMN or MCN on CT, MRI or EUS, with a cyst size of 5mm or more; healthy volunteers can also join
Earlier treatment
No prior pancreatic resection

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Cannot give written informed consent
  • Metallic implants or other reasons that rule out MRI
  • Reasons that rule out endoscopy because of other illnesses
  • Known pancreatic cancer or prior pancreatic resection
  • Heavy alcohol use: over 20 g daily for men or over 10 g daily for women

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 8 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Age 18 or older
  • Patients with at least 1 pancreatic cystic lesion presumed to be IPMN or MCN based on CT, MRI or EUS features, with a cyst size ≥ 5mm; or healthy subjects
  • Patients who are able to provide written informed consent to participate in the study and comply with the study procedures

Who cannot take part

  • Patients with metallic implants or other contraindications to MRI
  • Patients with known pancreatic cancer or prior pancreatic resection
  • Unable to provide written informed consent
  • Patients with contraindications for endoscopy due to comorbidities
  • Patients with significant alcohol consumption, defined as alcohol intake of over 20 g daily (140 g weekly) for men and 10 g daily (70 g weekly) for women

Where in Hong Kong

  • Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongShatin, Hong KongContact: Thomas Lam, BSTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality in Hong Kong and the seventh leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. In 2020, approximately 496000 new cases of pancreatic cancers were diagnosed globally . Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal cancer with a case-fatality rate of 94.0% globally. In Hong Kong, both the incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer have increased over the past decade.

Read full original descriptionShow less

Due to the deep-seated location of pancreas, it is difficult to diagnose pancreatic cancer at an early stage, which in turn leads to delays in cancer treatment and poorer survival. Despite advances in oncologic treatment, the 5-year survival rate of metastatic pancreatic cancer remains poor (~2.9%). As such, there has been growing interest to improve pancreatic cancer prevention and survival by:

1. reduction of modifiable risk factors (eg, cigarette smoking, obesity, diabetes), 2. screening for early detection of high-risk pre-malignant lesions in selected high-risks patients with strong family history of pancreatic cancer and/or certain germline mutations of pancreatic cancer susceptibility genes (eg, BRCA1, BRAC2, DNA mismatch repair genes in Lynch Syndrome, etc) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and 3. surveillance of pre-malignant precursor lesions such as mucinous pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) by imaging and/or EUS to identify high-risk neoplastic progression indicated for surgical resection.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Pancreatic cystic lesion subjectsExisting treatment, for comparison

    Patients with at least 1 pancreatic cystic lesion presumed to be IPMN or MCN based on CT, MRI or EUS features, with a cyst size ≥ 5mm

    Treatment: MRI for pancreatic fat and liver fat quantitation

  • Healthy subjectsExisting treatment, for comparison

    Treatment: MRI for pancreatic fat and liver fat quantitation

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

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Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Determination of Pancreatic Steatosis Prevalence and Correlation With High-risk Cyst Features in Patients With Pre-malignant Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Endoscopic Ultrasound
Plain-language title
Checks fat in the pancreas and its link to pancreatic cystsGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Record updated
27 October 2026