| Popis: |
Carcinoma of the pancreas remains a major therapeutic challenge, its incidence is increasing on a global basis (1,2) and over 6000 patients die each year in Britain from the disease (3). Only 15–20% of patients are resectable at the time of diagnosis (4,5). Trede (6) has reported the best actual 5-year survival of 24%. However this was achieved only in those patients with R0 resections. Most authors report a 2-year survival for resected patients in the region of 20% (7,8). In at least 90–95% of patients therefore, palliation of symptoms and optimising quality of life is the realistic aim of treatment. |
