8. Pancreatic and Biliary Cancer
- Janusz Jankowski MB ChB, MSc, MD, PhD, FRCP, FACG, AGAF2,3,4,
- Ernest Hawk MD, MPH5
Published Online: 15 NOV 2012
DOI: 10.1002/9781118423318.ch8
This edition first published 2013 © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Book Title
Handbook of Gastrointestinal Cancer
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bhardwaj, N. and Lloyd, D. M. (2012) Pancreatic and Biliary Cancer, in Handbook of Gastrointestinal Cancer (eds J. Jankowski and E. Hawk), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA. doi: 10.1002/9781118423318.ch8
Editor Information
- 2
Sir James Black Professor of Gastrointestinal Biology and Trials, Centre for Digestive Diseases, Barts and Th e London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
- 3
Consultant Gastroenterologist, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- 4
James Black Senior Fellow, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- 5
Vice President and Division Head, Division of Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences, Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair for Early Prevention of Cancer, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Publication History
- Published Online: 15 NOV 2012
- Published Print: 12 JUL 2012
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780470656242
Online ISBN: 9781118423318
- Summary
- Chapter
- References
Keywords:
- Pancreatic cancer;
- biliary cancer;
- gallbladder cancer;
- whipples procedure;
- hilar cholangiocarcinoma
Summary
Pancreatic and biliary cancers have a dismal prognosis due to the majority of cancers presenting with innocuous and nonspecific symptoms till they are at an advanced stage. In the small minority of patients deemed potentially resectable, a thorough and comprehensive preoperative assessment of patient fitness and tumor extent is essential in order to avoid the patient undergoing an unnecessary laparotomy. This includes discussion in MDT meeting, anesthetic assessment, and a laparoscopy. Patients deemed unfit or inoperable undergo drainage of their jaundice and referred to the oncologist. Adjuvant chemotherapy postoperatively and primary chemotherapy for inoperable disease have improved survival significantly.