title: Implications and issues related to familial pancreatic cancer: a cohort study of hospitalized patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The surveillance of subjects at risk of pancreatic cancer is restricted to clinical research; the incidence of familial pancreatic cancer needs to be better established. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of familial pancreatic cancer in a population of hospitalized patients with pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study based on the hospital charts of patients discharged with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. One hundred and eighty-seven patients or their relatives were called for a phone interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 97 males (51.9 %) and 90 (48.1 %) females. The overall mean ± SD age was 67.3 ± 11.8 years; the age of males was similar to that of females (P = 0140). The mean size of the tumors found was 36.3 ± 17.4 mm (range of 5-110 mm); it was related to gender but was not related to the site of the tumor or the age of the patient. Regarding genetic diseases, three females (1.6 %) had familial adenomatous polyposis; three patients (1 male and two females) (1.6 %) had at least one relative with pancreatic cancer whereas only one 80-year old male patient (0.5 %) had two relatives affected by pancreatic cancer (the mother had died at the 65 years of age and the brother had died at 75 years of age).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of familial pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is small, but its importance, from the point of view of early diagnosis, is not negligible and patients with a risk of familial cancer merit an appropriate clinical follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Preventive Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mughetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Preventive Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calculli
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Preventive Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chiesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Preventive Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciccarese
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Preventive Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Odeta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rrusho
authors.affiliation: Pancreas Unit, Department of Digestive System, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy. raffaele.pezzilli@aosp.bo.it.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pezzilli
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors