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World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2011; 17(19): 2365-2371
Published online May 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i19.2365
Published online May 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i19.2365
Review of screening for pancreatic cancer in high risk individuals
Alina Stoita, David B Williams, Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, 390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, NSW, Australia
Ian D Penman, Centre for Liver and Digestive Disorders, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, United Kingdom
Author contributions: All authors made an equal contribution.
Correspondence to: Dr. Alina Stoita, Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, 390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurt, 2010, NSW, Australia. alinastoita@yahoo.com.au
Telephone: +61-2-8382-2061 Fax: +61-2-83823983
Received: September 17, 2010
Revised: December 17, 2010
Accepted: December 24, 2010
Published online: May 21, 2011
Revised: December 17, 2010
Accepted: December 24, 2010
Published online: May 21, 2011
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose at an early stage and is associated with a very poor survival. Ten percent of pancreatic cancers result from genetic susceptibility and/or familial aggregation. Individuals from families with multiple affected first-degree relatives and those with a known cancer-causing genetic mutation have been shown to be at much higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Recent efforts have focused on detecting disease at an earlier stage to improve survival in these high-risk groups. This article reviews high-risk groups, screening methods, and current screening programs and their results.
Keywords: Pancreatic cancer, Familial cancer, Cancer screening, Risk factors, Endoscopic ultrasound, Hereditary cancer