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Cancer of the pancreas. Diagnostic accuracy and survival statistics
Author(s) -
Gudjonsson Birgir,
Livstone Elliot M.,
Spiro Howard M.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197811)42:5<2494::aid-cncr2820420554>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - medicine , pancreas , pancreatic cancer , palpation , cancer , context (archaeology) , adenocarcinoma , population , survival rate , mortality rate , general surgery , surgery , paleontology , environmental health , biology
We have reviewed the natural history, reliability of diagnosis, and survivorship of 100 patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, in the context of a thorough review of the literature on survival after therapy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. There is 40‐62.5% error in the histologic confirmation of the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The error by inspection and palpation alone at the time of surgery may be as great as 25%. The absolute 5 year survival rate calculated from 61 clinical studies representing approximately 15,000 patients is 0.4%. The best series in the current literature has only 3% 5 year rate based upon the total population of pancreatic cancer patients. 12.3% of 5 year survivors from the world literature did not have curative surgery. This study shows the necessity for standardization of reporting methods. The same patients and survivors should not be used repeatedly in different reports. Some authors who claim the most effective palliation by pancreatic resection have the highest mortality rates. Cancer 42:2494–2506, 1978.