Anatomical and Functional Imaging in the Management of VHL-Associated Pancreatic Lesions

Anatomical and functional imaging of the pancreas are important for the diagnosis and management of patients with VHL-associated pancreatic lesions. Currently available imaging modalities have variable sensitivity and specificity in their detection of cystic vs solid lesions, so using the correct imaging can increase diagnostic accuracy, and thus allow appropriate management of these patients. Furthermore, the use of functional imaging and radiotracers in patients diagnosed with VHL-associated pancreatic lesions has been shown to be especially valuable in the detection of advanced-stage disease, evaluation of metastatic disease, and optimizing treatment strategies. Due to their high likelihood of developing tumors in other organ systems, patients with VHL undergo considerable surveillance with imaging, in an attempt to identify disease early and initiate timely treatment. In this chapter, we review the role of different forms of anatomical and functional imaging in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with VHL-associated pancreatic lesions.