State-Of-The-Art Endoscopic Procedures for Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is the twelfth most common cancer worldwide, taking the fourth place in cancer-related mortality in western countries. Despite significant efforts in understanding the tumor biology of pancreatic cancer and introducing new technologies and therapies to improve the detection, staging and treatment of this disease, pancreatic cancer continues to have a high and almost unchanged mortality. In the last few decades, the development of techniques such as endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound have allowed us to directly access the pancreaticobiliary system and fight pancreatic cancer and its complications from different fronts. Our goal with this review is to discuss the most cutting-edge endoscopic techniques available in our armamentarium to diagnose, stage and treat pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic metastases from ocular malignant melanoma: the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration to establish a definitive cytologic diagnosis: a case report

“…Also, provides a high negative predictive value in ruling out pancreatic masses in the case these are not identified by EUS. [16]. When compared to CT, MRI and EUS have a better performance in detecting small lesions, especially if they are less than 3 mm in diameter both within the pancreas and in the duodenal wall [17].…”

Advances in endotherapy in chronic pancreatitis

“…41 In a meta-analysis that included 6 studies and 221 patients with CP, EUS-CPB was effective in 51.46% of patients. EUS-CPN is effective in patients with pancreatic cancer [42][43][44] and it has been used in patients with CP as well, achieving acceptable pain-relief shortly after the procedure, although the long-term effects are still uncertain. Another meta-analysis including 9 studies with 376 patients showed EUS-CPN procedures provided pain relief in 59% of patients with CP.…”