[Early diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma].
The poor prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma seems mainly due to the late symptoms onset. Age, cigarette smoking, family history of pancreatic carcinoma, chronic pancreatitis, a history of previous malignancy, new onset of diabetes mellitus without family history or overweight, and secondary failure to oral antidiabetic agents in a long standing type 2 diabetes mellitus are the hitherto identified risk factors. In consideration of the increasing availability of endoscopic ultrasonography--the most accurate examination in the diagnosis of small pancreatic masses--a perspective multicentric screening study on subjects with some of these risk factors may be justified at this time.
Girelli
C M
CM
Unità Operativa Medicina I, Servizio di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Ospedale di Circolo di Busto Arsizio. carlogirel@hotmail.com
Rocca
F
F
D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors