[Cancer of the pancreas]. / Cáncer de páncreas.

OBJECTIVE: To review current information about epidemiology, clinical picture, histopathology, diagnosis, staging and treatment of cancer of the pancreas. BACKGROUND: In Mexico and the rest of the world frequency of cancer of the pancreas has rosen. Early diagnosis is difficult and in general prognosis is poor. METHOD: A complication of classical and recent reports in cancer of the pancreas. RESULTS: The abuse in consumption of coffee and alcoholic beverages as well as smoking habit are related with this disease. Symptoms are non specific and when they become obvious disease in general is advanced. Intraductal adenocarcinoma is the most frequent histological type. Thinking in the disease and CT are important in the diagnosis. New diagnostic tools are available like monoclonal antibodies and oncogenes. Staging is important to rule out treatment in each case in particular. Duodenopancreatectomy still being the classic operation in cancer of the pancreas, and notwithstanding multiple technical modifications results have not changed. CONCLUSIONS: Better knowledge of the disease has brought earlier diagnosis and a better survival.

[Dynamic high-contrast computed tomography in the diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis]. / Tomografía computada dinámica de alto contraste en el diagnóstico de necrosis pancreática.

UNLABELLED: This work intended to find out whether dynamic high-contrast computed axial tomography (CAT scan) in effective and more useful than conventional computed tomography for the diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. BACKGROUND: Although many methods have been used to predict the severity and extent of pancreatic necrosis, few studies have assessed computed tomography. METHODS: Longitudinal, prospective and comparative study was performed on consecutive patients with severe acute pancreatitis in which dynamic high-contrast computed tomography and conventional computed tomography were carried out. RESULTS: In pancreatic necrosis, pancreatic densities were lower. Necrosis by itself was also associated with higher severity scores, but not with a higher mortality rate. However, mortality rates were influenced by the extent of pancreatic necrosis. Sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 68%, positive predictive and negative predictive values of 100 and 42% were achieved. STATISTICS: Densities of TCNL and TCAC were analyzed using student's t test of independent samples. The correlation of the aorta/pancreas index and the presence of necrosis was analyzed using a linear correlation test. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that dynamic high-contrast computed tomography is more effective than conventional computed tomography in diagnosing pancreatic necrosis. Moreover, the diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis and its extent makes it possible to formulate a prognosis as to severity of the disease.

[Monoclonal antibodies. Their usefulness in the diagnosis of malignant tumors of the digestive system]. / Anticuerpos monoclonales. Su utilidad en el diagnóstico de tumores malignos del aparato digestivo.

Lately, there is a lot of interest in tumor markers, monoclonal antibodies and immunoscanning in the diagnosis and follow-up of certain cancers. The main objective of this study is to report our initial experience with the detection of specific antibodies and with the obtention of scan images. In 85.7% of patients with cancer and in 40% of patients with benign conditions, above normal values of CEA were obtained. In 85.7% of patients with cancer and in 60% of patients with benign disease, above normal values of CA 19-9 were noted. Positive scans were obtained in 83.4% of cancer patients and 13.3% negative scans; it was not useful in one case. In benign conditions 40% of the scans were positive and 60% negative. I-131 was capable of detecting tumors very clearly. The statistical analysis employed was the exact test of Fisher and the correlation was evaluated with contingency coefficients.