Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Diseases, An Issue of Gastroenterology Clinics

Recent advances in scientific knowledge, biomedical technology and multidisciplinary translational efforts have impacted the evaluation and treatment of many disorders, and especially those of the pancreas. Disorders of the pancreas have, in the past, been very frustrating because the diagnosis was often made late in the course of the disease, and no significantly beneficial interventions were available. This situation is rapidly changing, as new insights from multiple perspectives are integrated and focused on each step of complex processes. This issue of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America highlights a number of areas of rapid progress in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders of the pancreas. Each chapter represents the integrated knowledge and perspective of expert faculty from molecular medicine, genetics, epidemiology, gastroenterology, therapeutic endoscopy, molecular and surgical pathology, minimally invasive surgery, surgical oncology, oncology, and abdominal imaging. Indeed, these multidisciplinary approaches are needed to understand newly appreciated clinical problems of autoimmune pancreatitis, alcoholic pancreatitis, management of severe acute pancreatitis, evaluation and treatment options for IPMNs, cystic lesions, incidentalomas and nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors. Improved interventions are also highlighted from both endoscopic and surgical perspectives. Together, these chapters represent the most up to date analysis of state of the art approaches to complex issues in the evaluation and treatment of pancreatic disorders.