Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Pancreatic Cancer
Michele Molinari, Hao Liu, Christof Kaltenmeier
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the most common tumors of the gastrointestinal system in the world. In the United States and in other industrialized countries, it represents the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The incidence of PC increases with age and most patients are diagnosed after the age of 50. The overall prognosis of PC is poor. Most tumors are silent and they often present when metastatic. Only less than 15% of patients can undergo surgery, which represents the only potential cure for PC, and less than 10% of patients are alive after 5 years. In this chapter, we present the epidemiology of PC and its most common risk factors.
Topics & Concepts
EpidemiologyPancreatic cancerIncidence (geometry)MedicineCancerDeveloped countryGastrointestinal cancerInternal medicineOncologyEnvironmental healthColorectal cancerPopulationOpticsPhysicsPancreatic and Hepatic Oncology ResearchPancreatitis Pathology and TreatmentNeuroendocrine Tumor Research Advances