Publications by Heini Nieminen

Publications by authors named "Heini Nieminen"

Sci Rep

August 2023

IPMNs are potentially cancerous pancreatic tumors that are often discovered by chance, requiring ongoing monitoring due to their precancerous nature.
New diagnostic methods are being explored to better identify high-risk IPMNs, as current imaging techniques have limitations.
Research comparing glycan profiles in non-invasive and invasive IPMNs reveals distinct differences that could lead to improved diagnostic options for these tumors.

BMC Gastroenterol

January 2023

The study investigates the impact of surveillance for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and anxiety levels.
A subgroup of 232 out of 899 patients completed HRQoL and anxiety questionnaires before and three months after follow-up, revealing minimal negative effects on their well-being.
The findings suggest that regular monitoring of patients with IPMNs is manageable and unlikely to significantly worsen their quality of life or anxiety, even as the number of patients under surveillance rises.

Scand J Surg

March 2022

The study focuses on managing patients with branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (BD-IPMN), noting the need for better surveillance due to the rising number of patients.
A total of 377 patients were analyzed over an average of 5.4 years, revealing that many had small, stable cysts and 12% had elevated levels of CA 19-9, a cancer marker.
Findings suggest that patients with cysts under 15 mm that do not grow and have normal CA 19-9 levels may require less frequent imaging, as no cancer or high-grade dysplasia was observed in these cases.

Abdom Radiol (NY)

February 2022

This study analyzes the effectiveness of an ultrashort-protocol (USP) MRI compared to longer MRI protocols in measuring pancreatic cysts and ducts while identifying concerning features in patients with IPMN (Intrapancreatic Mucinous Neoplasms).
Both USP and short/long protocols (S-LP) showed a high level of agreement for detecting important features, with 94.9% consistency for cysts/MPD nodules and 99.1% for solid tumors, suggesting USP is a viable alternative.
The cost of USP was significantly lower, at 39% of the longer protocol cost, making it a more economical option without compromising diagnostic quality.