[Pre-malignant and malignant diseases of the pancreas, a centralized and multidisciplinary approach]

The incidence of pancreatic cancer has doubled during the past three decades. Pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Overall 5-year survival is less than 10 %. It is thus of paramount importance to identify patients at risk to develop pancreatic cancer. The "pancreatic emergency route" and the weekly-organized complex surgery consultations are essential for fast and coordinated investigations for patients diagnosed of a pancreatic lesion. Pancreatic surgery, often preceded by neoadjuvant therapy, remains the only curative treatment if applicable. Implemented to decrease surgical morbidity and mortality, current centralization limits pancreatic resection surgery to a restricted numbers of expert centres in Belgium. Thanks to a close collaboration with the CHR of Liège, the CHR of Huy, the CHR of Bois de l'Abbaye, the Clinique André Renard and Vivalia, the reference centre of the CHU of Liège offers surgical, intensive, anaesthetic, oncological, gastroenterological, radiological and paramedical cares as part of a multidisciplinary approach characterized by expertise in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.