Reviews
Prognostic stratification of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Past, present, and future
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the digestive cancer with the poorest prognosis, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 7%. Complete surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the only treatment with curative intent. However, many patients with an apparently localized disease who may undergo primary tumor resection already have micro-metastatic disease and will promptly develop metastases. Considering the significant rate of morbidity and mortality upon pancreatic surgery, the pre-operative identification of patients with an aggressive disease is therefore a major clinical issue.Risk of pancreatic malignancy and mortality in branch-duct IPMNs undergoing surveillance: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Safety of non-operative management for low-risk branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) is debated.Role of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in gastrointestinal cancers
Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) has become a routine imaging modality for many malignancies and its use is currently increasing. In the present review article, we will summarize the evidence for FDG-PET/CT use in digestive cancers (excluding neuroendocrine tumours), and review the existing recommendations. While PET/CT is nowadays considered to be an important tool in the initial workup of oesophageal and anal cancers, new data are emerging regarding its use in assessing therapeutic efficacy, radiotherapy treatment planning, and detection of recurrence in case of isolated tumour marker elevation.Endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation of pancreaticobiliary disorders
The close proximity of the endoscopic ultrasound probe to the pancreas coupled with the ability to perform fine needle aspiration has made endoscopic ultrasound an extremely important technique for the evaluation of both benign and malignant pancreaticobiliary disorders. In parallel to the widespread importance of diagnostic endoscopic ultrasound, the therapeutic and interventional applications of this procedure are expanding and may become a major breakthrough in the management of pancreaticobiliary diseases.Endoscopic palliation of malignant obstructive jaundice: An evidence-based review
Endoscopic stent insertion is considered the method of choice for palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstruction. Nonetheless, relevant studies are often underpowered or outdated and do not compare actual surgical outcomes with latest stent technology. Purpose of this review was to assess, with an evidence-based methodology, the role of endoscopic versus surgical palliation of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice with special reference to clinical effectiveness, safety aspects and economic outcomes.
