Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (and its histological variants), also referred to as pancreatic cancer (PC) comprises 90% of exocrine pancreatic neoplasms [1]. This highly aggressive cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the USA [2]. More than 80% of patients with PC present with advanced disease that is incurable by surgery. Most tumors greater than 5 cm in size show disseminated metastases at presentation [3]. The 5-year survival rate of advanced PC is poor (< 5%) with a median survival of < 6 months. The 5-year survival rate improves to 20–30% in patients who harbor small, early invasive cancers (usually < 3 cm) and are candidates for surgical resection [2]. Thus, early diagnosis of PC before frank invasion occurs is critical to improve patient outcomes. Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are mucin-secreting, cystic neoplasms of characteristic histopathology and variable clinico-biological profiles. They comprise 10–45% of cystic pancreatic neoplasms [4]. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are characterized by cystic dilatation of ducts and intraductal papillary tumors with variable mucin production and tumor histobiology. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms constitute 15–25% of cystic pancreatic neoplasms and typically show slow intra-luminal growth and low metastatic potential [4, 5]. Subsets of these two mucinous tumors progress to PC. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, characterized by invasive growth and rapid dissemination despite a relatively well-differentiated histomorphology [3].
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Pancreatic Cancer |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 1-9 |
Number of pages | 9 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780511575440 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780521886925 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine