CONTEXT Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been established for detection and characterisation of liver tumours and differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions. The role of transabdominal CEUS in cystic pancreatic disease is less obvious. OBJECTIVE We prospectively evaluated CEUS for characterization of undetermined cystic pancreatic lesions with respect to the differential diagno...

BACKGROUND Patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease are prone to develop pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). However, the best imaging technique for early detection of pNETs in VHL is currently unknown. In a head-to-head comparison, we evaluated endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and (11)C-5-hydroxytryptophan positron emission tomography ((11)C-5-HTP PET) compared with conventional screenin...

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) molecules are known for their unique potential to combine adhesion, proteolysis, and signaling. To understand the role of ADAM17/tumor necrosis factor-A (TNF-A) converting enzyme (TACE) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we investigated its expression, function, and in vitro regulation. ADAM17/TACE mRNA was expressed in 3 of 10 normal pancreat...

Cutaneous metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinomas are rare lesions. The most common site of cutaneous metastasis is the umbilicus, and this is also known as the 'Sister Mary Joseph' nodule. A 68-year-old Korean male, who was previously healthy and asymptomatic, was seen in the dermatology department for two subcutaneous nodules that he had on his right forearm and his back. Histological exam...

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Despite significant progresses in the last decades, the origin of this cancer remains unclear and no efficient therapy exists. PDAC does not arise de novo: three remarkable different types of pancreatic lesions can evolve towards pancreatic cancer. These precursor lesions include: Pancreatic intraepithelial neo...

The expression levels and regulatory roles of miR-497 in pancreatic cancer are unclear. The clinical value of plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in pancreatic cancers has not been investigated. In the present study, we demonstrated that miR-497 was significantly downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues. Upregulation of miR-497 in BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cell lin...

The diagnostic approach to a possible pancreatic mass lesion relies first upon various non-invasive imaging modalities, including computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Once a suspect lesion has been identified, tissue acquisition for characterization of the lesion is often paramount in developing an individualized therapeutic approach. Given the high preval...

Activating mutation of the Kras oncogene is the most frequent and perhaps the earliest genetic alteration associated with pancreatic cancer. To examine the link between mutant Kras and exocrine pancreatic cancer, we generated transgenic mice carrying an elastase-mutant Kras transgene, which targets expression to pancreatic acinar cells. Most elastaseKras founder mice displayed perinatal pancrea...

UNLABELLED We have determined the ability of PET with the thymidine analog 3'-deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine (FLT) to detect pancreatic cancer and to differentiate malignant from benign pancreatic lesions. METHODS In this prospective study, (18)F-FLT PET was performed on 31 patients with undefined pancreatic lesions. Routine diagnostic procedures included endoscopic ultrasound, MRI, or multis...

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in its early stage and is one of the most lethal human cancers. Thus, it is important to clarify its major risk factors, predictive factors and etiology. Here, we focus on fatty infiltration of the pancreas and suggest that it could be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Fatty infiltration of the pancreas is observed as ectopic adipocytes infiltrating...