MONITORING OF RECURRENCE IN PATIENTS RADICALLY OPERATED FOR PANCREATIC CANCER

Pancreatic cancer is a diagnosis that carries a poor prognosis. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Europe and the United States, despite advances in operative technique and postoperative management. Furthermore, there is no consensus on the optimal follow-up schedule of patients after surgery for pancreatic cancer, all recommendations on surveillance being based on low level evidence or no evidence and the leading societies propose different guidelines. As a consequence, follow-up strategies may differ between hospitals depending on preference of physicians. The vast majority of patients develop recurrence within 2 years after surgery, suggesting the necessity of a more intensive follow-up the first 2 years after surgery. It usually occurs after surgery as migratory metastases along major upper abdominal arteries and veins to the liver or peritoneum (70%) and less commonly as loco regional disease as masses closely applied to the surgical margins in the neck or body of the pancreas (30%). Currently, there are no effective means to prevent pancreatic cancer recurrence, despite the fact that it is responsible for the majority of postoperative deaths.