Carcinoma of the pancreatic head area: follow-up.
Preliminary results of a planned follow-up schedule based on periodic clinicoinstrumental controls applied to a population of 73 patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing combined modality treatments modulated according to the different prognosis, are reported. The following considerations are stressed: 1) the feasibility of scheduled controls is confirmed by the low rate (1.4%) of patients lost to follow-up in spite of the rapidly fatal course of the disease, characterized by the deteriorating performance status in most patients; 2) radiologic exams should be performed in the same center where the patients were initially staged by a team experienced in the natural history of this disease and aware of the difficulties in assessing the treatment, surgery in particular; 3) supportive care plays a major role in patients followed-up for the frequent onset of symptoms which impact on the quality of life; 4) the interdisciplinary collaboration between surgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, endoscopists and experts in nutrition and pain relief plays a major role.
Turriziani
A
A
Istituto di Radiologia, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Roma.
Brizi
M G
MG
Costamagna
G
G
Frontera
D
D
Morganti
A G
AG
Smaniotto
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*