| Theme |
Pancreatic Cancer : Up-to-date |
| Title |
Strategy for EarlyDiagnosis and Staging of Pancreatic Cancer |
| Author |
Takeshi Ogura |
Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital |
| Author |
Kenji Yamao |
Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital |
| Author |
Akira Sawaki |
Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital |
| Author |
Nobumasa Mizuno |
Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital |
| Author |
Kazuo Hara |
Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital |
| Author |
Susumu Hijioka |
Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
The prognoses for pancreatic cancer remain very poor. However, they are better for patients with small tumors limited to the pancreas and carcinomas which are in situ in the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) seems to be one of the most promising techniques to detect small pancreatic cancers. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is useful for histological diagnosis. Determining high risk pancreatic cancer groups and appropriate combinations of EUS and EUS-FNA are important for detection and diagnosis of small cancers limited to the pancreas. Cytological examination of pancreatic juice using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is useful in the diagnosis of occult cancer (carcinoma in situ) of the pancreas. For most common types of advanced stage pancreatic cancer, it is important to develop rapid and accurate diagnoses and to conduct preoperative staging by employing MDCT combined with EUS. Histological evidence from EUS-FNA or ERCP is also important to rapidly determine definite therapeutic strategies. |