Podcast: The IBD–PSC Connection: Coordinated Care and Cancer Surveillance

Explore the connection between primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease, with a focus on cancer risk, surveillance, and coordinated patient care. In this podcast, Tessa Janovsky and Maly Tiev discuss the importance of monitoring for colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer in patients with PSC and concurrent IBD. The conversation covers colonoscopy surveillance, MRI and MRCP imaging, and the role and limitations of CA 19-9 testing, including how trends over time can inform further evaluation. The speakers also discuss surveillance considerations for patients with PSC without known IBD and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance for those who develop cirrhosis. Additional topics include distinguishing noninvasive imaging from ERCP, recognizing bile duct strictures and recurrent bacterial cholangitis, and identifying situations that may warrant intervention or tissue sampling. Throughout the discussion, they emphasize collaboration among hepatology providers, community gastroenterologists, IBD specialists, and advanced endoscopists to help patients stay on track with recommended monitoring. Designed for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other gastroenterology and hepatology professionals, this episode highlights practical approaches to PSC-IBD care coordination, patient education, and explaining why ongoing cancer surveillance remains important even when patients feel well.