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Pancreatic cancer screening

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Abdominal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This article reviews the current evidence surrounding pancreatic cancer screening. The current targets of screening include identification of early pancreatic cancer, as well as the two most important precursor lesions; intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and high grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Given the relatively low incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the general population, patients with elevated risk based on family history or an underlying genetic syndrome are felt to be the most appropriate patients to undergo screening.

Methods

An extensive review of the literature was performed and the major findings of the available literature regarding pancreatic screening are reviewed in detail.

Results

Several prospective trials have evaluated pancreatic cancer screening in high-risk groups. The results of those trials are summarized in this article. Current consensus guidelines and recommendations from the International Cancer of the Pancreas Screening Consortium Summit are also discussed.

Conclusions

The exact benefit of pancreatic cancer screening remains unclear at this time, but emerging evidence suggests that there is a window of opportunity to detect precursor lesions and early pancreatic adenocarcinomas in high-risk patient populations. Better understanding of the pathway of carcinogenesis will hopefully improve our ability to detect early, resectable pancreatic carcinomas, and provide a mortality benefit to patients at significantly elevated risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, St. Boniface General Hospital, University of Manitoba, 409 Tache Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R2H 2A6, Canada

    Chris M. Lindquist

  2. Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. St. Clair St. Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Frank H. Miller, Nancy A. Hammond & Paul Nikolaidis

Authors
  1. Chris M. Lindquist
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  2. Frank H. Miller
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  3. Nancy A. Hammond
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  4. Paul Nikolaidis
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Correspondence to Chris M. Lindquist.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Lindquist, C.M., Miller, F.H., Hammond, N.A. et al. Pancreatic cancer screening. Abdom Radiol 43, 264–272 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1308-z

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