Overview of pancreatic cancer, 1989

Pancreatic cancer remains a leading cause of death from cancer. Its incidence is rising throughout the world, not solely because of improved diagnostic techniques. Diagnosis is followed relatively rapidly by the demise of the patient, and reasons for this rapid course have been sought. Both patient and physician delay play roles in this course. In addition, spread of the lesion outside the confines of the pancreas is usually present at the time of diagnosis. Symptoms, age and sex distribution, pathologic types, location within the pancreas, and physical findings are discussed. The various diagnostic techniques are evaluated and compared. Choices of operations are discussed, including risks associated with each, survival results, and the recent decrease in operative mortality reported from several institutions. Some of the newer approaches to therapy are discussed--combinations of radiotherapy, operation, and palliative procedures. The importance of a diagnostic method that will detect the lesion at an earlier stage is stressed.