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Review
. 2013 Oct 1;185(14):1219-26.
doi: 10.1503/cmaj.121368. Epub 2013 Apr 22.

Diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer

Zaheer S Kanji, Steven Gallinger
Review

Diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer

Zaheer S Kanji et al. CMAJ. .
No abstract available

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Diagnostic algorithm for pancreatic cancer. Laboratory investigations include a complete blood count (CBC), liver enzyme tests for biliary obstruction, and fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) tests to monitor for new onset or worsening diabetes. A transabdominal ultrasound can be performed for patients presenting with jaundice or nonspecific abdominal pain, followed by computed tomography (CT) if suspicious for pancreatic cancer. Patients with contraindications to CT, intolerance to contrast or in whom resectability is questioned can undergo magnetic resonance imagining (MRI). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not routinely used, but cytologic brushings for diagnosis can be taken in those with cholangitis and an unknown pancreatic mass, or with jaundice who are unfit for immediate surgery. Endoscopic ultrasound- or CT-guided biopsies are used when diagnosis is unclear after imaging, in unresectable cases before palliative treatment or before neoadjuvant treatment. *Painless jaundice, pain in the right–upper quadrant or epigastric pain, indigestion, early satiety, steatorrhea, weight loss, abdominal mass. Dashed lines indicate imaging modalities that can be contained but are not routinely necessary.
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Treatment algorithm for pancreatic cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Woodmass J, Lipschitz J, McKay A. Physician attitudes and treatment of patterns for pancreatic cancer. World J Surg Oncol 2011;9:21. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hidalgo M. Pancreas cancer. NEJM 2010;362:1605–17 - PubMed
    1. Pancreatic cancer survival by stage. Atlanta (GA): American Cancer Society; 2013. Available: www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreaticcancer/detailedguide/pancreatic-cancer-s... (accessed 2013 Mar. 21).

Publication types