Two Cases of Pancreatic Cysts Found in Women Using GLP-1 Medications | Research

The takeaway

Two middle-aged women without prior pancreatic disease developed large mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas following GLP-1 receptor agonist use.

2 cases reported
Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms in women without typical risk factors following GLP-1 RA use

What the researchers found

Two patients without typical risk factors developed pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms following GLP-1 RA use, suggesting a possible association requiring further investigation.

Why it matters

While pancreatic safety has been a recurring concern with GLP-1 RAs, associations with cystic neoplasms (as opposed to pancreatitis) have rarely been reported and warrant monitoring.

How the study worked

Case report of two patients — descriptive clinical observation with literature review.

What this study cannot tell us

Case report — cannot establish causation; two cases is insufficient to determine true risk; temporal association does not prove causal relationship.

How to read the evidence

Case report — lowest level of evidence; hypothesis-generating only. Cannot establish causation or risk magnitude.

When this study was published

Published 2026. Adds to emerging pancreatic safety monitoring for GLP-1 RAs.

The bigger picture

As GLP-1 RA use expands to millions of patients, rare adverse events will increasingly surface. Systematic pharmacovigilance is essential to distinguish signal from noise.

Questions still open

Is there a biological mechanism linking GLP-1 RA use to pancreatic cystic neoplasms?
Should pancreatic imaging be part of routine monitoring for GLP-1 RA users?

Common questions

Can GLP-1 drugs cause pancreatic problems?

GLP-1 medications have been associated with acute pancreatitis in rare cases. These two reports of pancreatic cysts are new and unproven as a drug effect — they are observations that need further study.

Should I be worried about pancreatic cancer on a GLP-1 drug?

Two case reports cannot establish risk. Mucinous cystic neoplasms are typically benign but require monitoring. Report any persistent abdominal pain to your doctor.

Read the original research

Pancreatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms Following GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Use: A Report of Two Cases with Literature Review.

Journal of gastrointestinal cancer, 57(1), 28

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Alsaleh, Nourah Mohammed; Abo Alshamat, Renad; Almrzouqi, Wejdan; Alhebshi, Mohammed; Aljuhani, Turky; Almahdi, Rahf; Almaghrabi, Majed; Rammal, Almotasembillah; Ageel, Amro; Alzahrani, Mohammed Ahmad. (2026). Pancreatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasms Following GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Use: A Report of Two Cases with Literature Review.. Journal of gastrointestinal cancer, 57(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-025-01377-8