Carcinoma of the body of pancreas in evolution: an aggressive disease affecting younger patients?

CONTEXT: Pancreatic body carcinoma has a poor prognosis with advanced disease at presentation. Recent experience at multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings suggests increasing prevalence. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine if introduction of MDT meetings has affected the natural history of this disease. DESIGN: Retrospective diagnostic and survival data were collected from 1995 to 2006 at two large teaching hospitals, and divided into pre- and post 2003 groups (based on MDT introduction). PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one patients with pancreatic body carcinoma (median age at diagnosis 72 years; range 43-87 years). RESULTS: Commonest symptoms at presentation were abdominal pain and weight loss. Eight patients (25.8%) were diagnosed pre MDT (median age 71.5 years, range: 60-87 years) and 23 patients (74.2%) were diagnosed post MDT (median age 67 years, range: 43-85 years; P=0.299 vs. pre MDT). There was a significantly (P=0.024) greater prevalence of more advanced tumours post MDT (stage IV: 15/23, 65.2%) than pre MDT (stage IV: 2/8, 25.0%). Neither tumour markers nor liver biochemistry differentiated tumour stage. Best supportive care was offered to 16 patients (51.6%) while 12 patients (38.7%) were suitable for chemotherapy: 2 out of 8 pre MDT (25.0%) and 10 out of 23 (43.5%) post MDT (P=0.433). For stage III tumours, post MDT patients tended to be younger (median 59 years vs. 74.5 years, P=0.042). Survival was not significantly increased after MDT introduction but chemotherapy offered significant survival benefit on multivariate analysis (P=0.042; hazard ratio: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.16-0.97). CONCLUSION: The trend is towards increased prevalence of pancreatic body cancer and more advanced disease at presentation. Chemotherapy was associated with a survival benefit, although the introduction of the MDT has not significantly altered disease management.

21st century twist on Cullen's sign: new generation anticoagulants and splenic traum.

New anticoagulants such as Rivaroxaban have become a popular choice for patients needing anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism, chiefly because anticoagulation is maintained without the need for monitoring. This can be problematic in cases of trauma, and in this article, we discuss the management and outcome of managing an elderly patient with a shattered spleen while on Rivaroxaban.