Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy owing to the difficulty of early detection. In 2021, the Chinese Consensus on Early Screening and Surveillance for Pancreatic Cancer in High-risk Individuals was first established. However, the evidence landscape has evolved rapidly, necessitating an updated, evidence-based framework tailored to the Chinese healthcare context. This revised consensus aims to standardize the early screening and surveillance process for high-risk populations in China. A multidisciplinary expert panel comprising 53 specialists from 17 provincial-level regions systematically reviewed the literature using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology. A modified Delphi process was employed, with consensus predefined as ≥75% agreement. The panel formulated 26 evidence-based recommendations covering screening objectives, the definition of high-risk populations (hereditary susceptibility, new-onset diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cystic neoplasms), age at screening initiation, surveillance intervals, imaging modalities (magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography), surgical indications, and lifestyle modifications. Of these recommendations, 14 are strong and 12 are weak, supported by evidence levels ranging from A to D. Implementation of this consensus in clinical practice will help improve the early diagnosis of stage I pancreatic cancer and high-grade precursor lesions, thereby advancing standardized multidisciplinary care and ultimately improving patient outcomes in China.
Chinese Society of Digestive Endoscopy Pancreatic Disease Collaborative Group (Wed,) studied this question.