No abstract

The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis remains challenging in early stages of the disease. This report defines the diagnostic criteria useful in the assessment of patients with suspected and established chronic pancreatitis. All current diagnostic procedures are reviewed and evidence based statements are provided about their utility and limitations. Diagnostic criteria for chronic pancreatitis are classified as definitive, probable or insufficient evidence. A diagnostic (STEP-wise; S-survey, T-tomography, E-endoscopy and P-pancreas function testing) algorithm is proposed that proceeds from a non-invasive to a more invasive approach. This algorithm maximizes specificity (low false positive rate) in subjects with chronic abdominal pain and equivocal imaging changes. Futhermore, a nomenclature is suggested to further characterize patients with established chronic pancreatitis based on TIGAR-O (T-toxic, I-idiopathic, G-genetic, A- autoimmune, R-recurrent and O-obstructive) etiology, gland morphology (Cambridge criteria) and physiologic state (exocrine, endocrine function) for uniformity across future multi-center research collaborations. This guideline will serve as a baseline manuscript that will be modified as new evidence becomes available and our knowledge of chronic pancreatitis improves.

This study suggests that osteoporosis, unfavourable body composition, sexual dysfunction and reduced quality of life are seen in patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy for at least 12 months. Longitudinal studies in this patient population will shed further light on the timing of the development and the extent of these complications. Meanwhile, this information will assist both physicians and patients with prostate cancer to make informed decisions regarding androgen deprivation therapy.

Hematogenous dissemination is thought to be a late event in cancer progression. We showed recently that pancreas cells can be detected in the bloodstream before tumor formation, in a genetic model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). To confirm these findings in humans, we used microfluidic geometrically enhanced immunocapture to detect circulating pancreas epithelial cells (CECs) in patient blood samples. We captured >3 CECs/ml in 7 of 21 (33%) of patients with cystic lesions and no clinical diagnosis of cancer (Sendai criteria negative), 8 of 11 (73%) with PDAC, and in 0 of 19 patients without cysts or cancer (controls). These findings indicate that cancer cells are present in the circulation of patients before tumors develop, which might be used in risk assessment.

No abstract