Endosonographic Evaluation Improves Survival in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Due to a lack of early detection and treatment options, pancreatic cancer is lethal. In fact, most patients with pancreatic cancer die because the disease has metastasized so far that it can no longer be removed. However, a small percentage of pancreatic cancers are detected early enough for a curative surgery to allow removal of the tumor, which may result in improved chances for survival.

Researchers are searching for new, improved technologies that could either detect pancreatic cancer earlier or treat it once it is detected. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a costly technique, but shows great promise in helping to improve patient outcomes after a diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. Researchers for a new study sought to learn about the association between EUS performance and pancreatic cancer survival. To achieve this, investigators reviewed the SEER-Medicare database of patients receiving treatment between January 1994 and December 2002. In all, the records of 4,236 patients with pancreatic cancer were evaluated, and divided into two groups--those who received EUS (only 12% of the sample) and those who did not (88%).

Researchers found that after they controlled for age, race, gender, and comorbidities, those who did receive EUS at the time of diagnosis had a longer average survival time (nine months) than those who did not receive EUS (five months).

"Good initial investigation by EUS makes a significant difference for patients with pancreatic cancer,” said Ananya Das, M.D., associate chair of medicine, Mayo Clinic, in Scottsdale, AZ, USA. "Though the treatment is expensive and not available everywhere, it has shown to be a marker for better care and treatment planning.”

The investigators presented their findings at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW-2008) held in May 17-22, 2008, in San Diego, CA, USA.


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