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Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy in Pancreatic Cancer

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Pancreatic Cancer

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Abstract:

While endoscopic ultrasound is the most sensitive procedure for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a safe and effective approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and palliation of biliary and pancreatic disorders [1]. Most patients with pancreatic cancer will have multiple contacts with the therapeutic endoscopy service over the course of their disease. ERCP is commonly employed to examine the biliary tree and pancreatic duct, to confirm the presence of obstructive lesions, and to define the location of benign and malignant strictures. The procedure allows for tissue diagnosis in some settings via sampling of ductal strictures. There is a major role for ERCP in the palliation of pancreatic cancer where stent placement can relieve obstructive jaundice and enteral stenosis. This chapter addresses the use of ERCP in pancreatic adenocarcinoma with respect to cancer diagnosis, therapy, and palliation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Folasade P. May, Field F. Willingham & David L. Carr-Locke

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Field F. Willingham

  3. Director of the Endoscopy Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Division of Gastroenterology, Boston, MA, USA

    Folasade P. May, Field F. Willingham & David L. Carr-Locke

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  1. Folasade P. May
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  2. Field F. Willingham
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  3. David L. Carr-Locke
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May, F.P., Willingham, F.F., Carr-Locke, D.L. (2010). Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy in Pancreatic Cancer. In: Pancreatic Cancer. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-77498-5_34

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