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Pancreatic Tumors: Pathophysiology and Treatment

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Principles and Practice of Geriatric Surgery

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Abstract

The entire spectrum of benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms can be seen in the elderly. Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is by far the most important of these conditions, reflecting the frequency and lethality of the disease and the complexity of treatment. The incidence of pancreatic cancer rose dramatically from the 1930s until the mid-1970s, nearly doubling during this time period. Since 1973, the incidence in the United States has remained stable at 8–9 per 100,000 population, with over 28,000 new cases diagnosed yearly1 Carcinoma of the pancreas is an extremely lethal disease with an overall estimated cure rate of less than 5%. Although it represents only 2–3% of all cancers, it results in more than 6% of cancer deaths. As the population ages, it can be expected that increasing numbers of elderly patients will be diagnosed and require treatment for pancreatic cancer.

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Authors
  1. Keith D. Lillemoe
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Ronnie A. Rosenthal MD (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service) (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service)

  2. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, 06516, CT, USA

    Ronnie A. Rosenthal MD (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service) (Associate Professor, Chief, Surgical Service)

  3. Department of Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, 10461, NY, USA

    Michael E. Zenilman MD (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery) (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery)

  4. Jack D. Weiler Hospital of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, 10461, NY, USA

    Michael E. Zenilman MD (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery) (Associate Professor and Vice-Chairman, Chief of Surgery)

  5. Wyoming Valley Surgical Associates, Kingston, 18704, PA, USA

    Mark R. Katlic M.D. (Chief of Thoracic Surgery) (Chief of Thoracic Surgery)

  6. Wyoming Valley Healthcare System, Wilkes-Barre, 18702, PA, USA

    Mark R. Katlic M.D. (Chief of Thoracic Surgery) (Chief of Thoracic Surgery)

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Lillemoe, K.D. (2001). Pancreatic Tumors: Pathophysiology and Treatment. In: Rosenthal, R.A., Zenilman, M.E., Katlic, M.R. (eds) Principles and Practice of Geriatric Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3432-4_53

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3432-4_53

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-3434-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3432-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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