title: Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death in Europe with survival rates remaining unchanged over the last three decades. Early diagnosis and accurate staging are essential due to the difficulty of curing this tumor in its advanced form. Endoscopic or laparoscopic ultrasonography and computed tomography are the preferred imaging and staging modalities for many patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Morbidity and mortality are similar for pylorus-preserving and classic pancreatico-duodenectomy. Extended retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy does not improve survival and increases morbidity compared with standard pancreaticoduodenectomy, while adjuvant chemoradiotherapy prolongs survival in selected groups of patients. This article reviews the causes, risk factors, and clinical features of pancreatic adeno-carcinoma and discusses the methods of optimal diagnosis, staging and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Upper Gastrointestinal and General Surgery, Leighton Hospital, Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germanos
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Aglaia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stavrothanasopoulou
authors.forename: Periklis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alepas
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zampitis
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panteli
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*