Pancreatic Tumor Study Group - Diagnosis and Treatment

Pancreatic Cancer - Frequently Asked Questions

Diagnosis and Treatment

	The Pancreas and Related Anatomy
	Pretreatment Diagnostic Imaging Studies and References
	Fine Needle Aspiration for Tissue Diagnosis
	Multimodality Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer and References
	Types of Surgery Performed for Pancreatic Cancer

Clinical Studies

Who are the Pancreatic Tumor Study Group specialists?

How to refer a patient for evaluation

Pancreas Cancer Survivors

From Bench to Bedside: Basic Science Research

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Current Diagnosis and
Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

The main goal of pancreatic cancer treatment at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to maximize both the quality and length of patient survival. Before treatment, patients undergo state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging followed by endoscopic or percutaneous biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is based upon the exact stage of the disease and usually involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Many patients are enrolled in clinical studies; this allows innovative drugs and drug-radiation combinations to move quickly from the laboratory to the clinic.

The Pancreas and Related Anatomy

This diagram indicates the location of the pancreas and its related structures treated by the Pancreatic Tumor Study Group.

Multimodality Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer and References

External-beam radiation therapy and concomitant chemotherapy were shown to prolong survival in patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Types of Surgery Performed in Pancreatic Cancer

There are several kinds of surgery used to treat this disease, depending on where the tumor is located within the pancreas.

Pretreatment Diagnostic Imaging Studies and References

The goals of imaging studies in patients with pancreatic masses or suspected pancreatic cancer are accurate diagnosis, staging, and relief of biliary jaundice.

Fine Needle Aspiration for Tissue Diagnosis

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) guided Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) is the method utilized to obtain tissue diagnosis prior to treatment planning.

Nutrition for the Pancreatic Cancer Patient

This article is in progress and will be added on completion.

For more information about ongoing clinical trials in pancreatic cancer, visit the PTSG Clinical Studies page.

For a listing of all clinical trials at M. D. Anderson, visit www.clinicaltrials.org.