Surgical management of hereditary pancreatic cancer

Unlike other inherited cancers, patients with a genetic predisposition to p ancreatic cancer have a similar age of onset and prognosis as those with th e sporadic form of the disease. Given these similarities, recommendations r egarding evaluation and management are similar for both groups. Accurate pr etreatment staging is critical to minimizing treatment-associated morbidity and achieving the best possible results. Surgery remains the only chance f or a cure of pancreatic cancer and has evolved considerably during this cen tury. The standard Whipple procedure with postoperative adjuvant chemoradia tion is the mainstay of modern treatment. Routine total pancreatectomy for patients with established pancreatic cancer cannot be recommended, although continued research into familial cancer families may define its role in pr eventive management strategies.