Precursor lesions for sporadic pancreatic cancer: PanIN, IPMN, and MCN

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:474905. doi: 10.1155/2014/474905. Epub 2014 Mar 24.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is still a dismal disease. The high mortality rate is mainly caused by the lack of highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tools, and most of the patients are diagnosed in an advanced and incurable stage. Knowledge about precursor lesions for pancreatic cancer has grown significantly over the last decade, and nowadays we know that mainly three lesions (PanIN, and IPMN, MCN) are responsible for the development of pancreatic cancer. The early detection of these lesions is still challenging but provides the chance to cure patients before they might get an invasive pancreatic carcinoma. This paper focuses on PanIN, IPMN, and MCN lesions and reviews the current level of knowledge and clinical measures.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / classification
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology*
  • Carcinoma in Situ / classification
  • Carcinoma in Situ / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / classification
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / classification
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Precancerous Conditions / classification
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology*