Staging of pancreatic cancer: resectable, borderline resectable, and unresectable disease

Abdom Radiol (NY). 2018 Feb;43(2):301-313. doi: 10.1007/s00261-017-1410-2.

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a relatively common malignancy that carries an overall poor prognosis, with five-year survival below 10%. Despite ongoing research, surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment. Therefore, accurate identification of those patients who would benefit from surgical resection is of paramount importance. High-quality imaging and image interpretation is central to this process. Radiology helps in the determination of whether patients are resectable, borderline resectable, or unresectable and guides treatment planning.

Keywords: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); Preoperative staging; Resectability; Vasculature.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Patient Selection
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Prognosis