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Chronic pancreatitis (CP) in general and hereditary pancreatitis in particular, are considered risk factors for pancreatic cancer. There is a 15-fold increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer for people with chronic pancreatitis, especially for those with alcoholic pancreatitis, and a 40-50 fold increase for patients with hereditary pancreatitis. Presently, pancreatic cancer occurs in approximately 5% of patients with CP but researchers expect that as the genetics of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer is better understood, recognition of the relationship between these two pancreatic conditions will account for a higher percentage.

There is a pancreatic lesion classification system which has been proposed, called PanIN (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia) which describes three stages of lesions in the pancreas that are considered to be precursors for cancer. All of these stages have been found in chronic pancreatitis.

Doctors consider it important for patients with chronic pancreatitis to undergo endoscopic ultrasound once a year with aspiration or biopsy of any mass in the pancreatic duct wall. Some experts recommend screening all patients above the age of 40 who have hereditary pancreatitis. Any change in symptoms, such as pain, weight loss, or jaundice should be sufficient reason for these patients to be evaluated for pancreatic cancer. Patients with positive outcomes may need to consider prophylactic surgical resection in order to try and avoid what may be an increased probability of developing cancer.