Surgery and cancer of the pancreas: Will common sense become common practice?

Avram M. Cooperman, Andrew Fader, Brian Cushin, Francis Golier, Michael Feld, Franklin Kasmin, Seth Cohen, Panna Mahadevia, Kumudini Shah

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a systemic disease for most patients. Operations with the intent to cure may be done safely (mortality, <3%) with shorter hospital stays. Surgery has been minimally effective as a long-term cure. Endoscopic palliation of jaundice is becoming standard practice. Common sense dictates a defined and clear role for surgery (i.e., strict patient selection criteria). Surgery is of great value for small, localized lesions; of clear value as palliative therapy when nonoperative measures fail; and perhaps best applied after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Surgery is just part of the armamentarium available to treat pancreatic cancer. Novel systemic therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and so-called targeted therapies, are becoming increasingly valuable in the management of this systemic disease and are discussed in detail in other articles in this issue.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)81-94
Number of pages14
JournalHematology/Oncology Clinics of North America
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

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