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.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: