Oncology

Answer 2 The majority of affected patients have surgically resectable tumors. On the contrary, most patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma have unresectable tumors. In the United States, it is estimated that as many as 80% of patients initially diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will already have locally advanced or metastatic disease. The majority of these patients are in their 60s and 70s, present with obstructive jaundice, and have tumors in the head of the gland. Several studies have documented the lack of survival benefit for patients undergoing operative resection with disease extending beyond the pancreas into contiguous organs or to vascular structures without frank metastases. Unfortunately, most patients have tumors that extend beyond the pancreas or invade adjacent structures. Even following pancreatic resection, patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma have less than a 10% chance for a 5-year survival. Survival beyond 2 years following diagnosis is uncommon. Click here to return to the questions

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