The pancreas has two main functions: to produce and secrete digestive enzymes (exocrine function) and to produce hormones that regulate blood glucose and splanchnic secretion (endocrine function). The endocrine and exocrine portions of the pancreas are central regulators in digestion and metabolism, with continuous crosstalk between their deeply interconnected components, which plays a role in disease. Pancreatic neoplasms, inflammation, trauma, and surgery can lead to the development of type 3c diabetes when an insult simultaneously damages both acini and islets, leading to exocrine and endocrine dysfunction. In diabetes mellitus patients, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is highly prevalent, yet little is known about the associations between diabetes mellitus and pancreatic exocrine function. This review aims to provide an overview of the physiology of the pancreas, summarize the pathophysiology and diagnostic work-up of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, and explore the relationships between exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and diabetes mellitus.

Pancreatic surgery is a complex and challenging field, with patients facing a high risk of postoperative complications. In recent years, indocyanine green (ICG) has gained prominence as a valuable tool used in various aspects of pancreatic surgery. ICG is a fluorescent dye that offers real-time imaging capabilities that enhance the surgeon’s ability to accurately localize tumors and critical anatomical structures, thereby improving surgical precision and potentially reducing operative time and complications. One of the most significant advantages of ICG is its ability to provide enhanced visualization of the biliary tract and vascular structures, which is particularly beneficial in complex pancreatic resections, in which the anatomy can be highly variable and challenging to navigate. Furthermore, ICG can be instrumental in ensuring the adequate perfusion of anastomoses, thereby reducing the risk of postoperative leaks and associated morbidity. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the current applications, advantages, and limitations of ICG in pancreatic surgery.

Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) display four histological subtypes: gastric foveolar, pancreaticobiliary, intestinal, and oncocytic. All of these subtypes harbor a different risk of cancer development. The clinical impact of these subtypes concerning the occurrence of high-grade dysplasia (HGD)/cancer (C) in specific morphological types, such as branch-duct (BD), main-duct (MD), and mixed-type (MT) IPMNs, has been less investigated. Hence, our aim was to investigate the prevalence of histological subtypes and their possible association with HGD/C concerning morphologically different IPMNs. Methods: This was a retrospective review of demographics, risk factors, and histological features in a surgical cohort of patients having undergone resection for suspect malignant IPMNs at a high-volume tertiary center from 2007 to 2017. Results: A total of 273 patients were resected for IPMNs from during the study period, of which 188 were included in the final analysis. With sex- and age-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis across the entire cohort, gastric foveolar subtypes were associated with a reduced prevalence of HGD/C (OR = 0.30; 0.11–0.81, 95% CI, 95%CI; p = 0.01). With univariable logistic regression analysis, in the BD-IPMN subgroup, the pancreaticobiliary subtype was associated with an increased prevalence of HGD/C (OR = 18.50, 1.03–329.65, 95% CI; p = 0.04). In MD- and MT-IPMNs, the gastric foveolar subtype was associated with a decreased prevalence of HGD/cancer (OR = 0.30, 0.13–0.69, 95% CI; p = 0.004). Conclusions: In MD and MT-IPMNs, the gastric-foveolar subtype is associated with a lower prevalence of HGD/C, possibly identifying in such a high-risk group, a subgroup with more indolent behavior. In BD-IPMNs, the pancreaticobiliary subtype is associated with a higher prevalence of HGD/C, conversely identifying among those patients, a subgroup deserving special attention.