ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic cancer is one of the more common causes of cancer-related death in the western world. Improved survival has been defined in early cases. However, most patients present with advanced disease due to the absence of early symptoms and lack of effective screening programs. Surgery for cure occurs in the minority of cases with most patients requiring some form of palliation. This chapter discusses recent advances in diagnosis, staging, curative surgery, palliation and adjuvant therapy for pancreatic carcinoma.
