Pancreatic Cancer and Gastroenterology: A Review

Pancreatic cancer is a well known aggressive and highly malignant condition with varied ways of presentation. It is the fourth commonest cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Presenting symptoms and signs are closely related to tumor size and location. Imaging remains the most useful diagnostic modality and is typically applied in an “upgrade fashion” unless in the case of incidentally discovered pancreatic tumors. The role of gastroenterology in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with this condition has expanded recently and is expected to grow even more.