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Pancreatic and Biliary Cancer

Pancreatic and biliary cancers are the focus of great attention at the NewYork-Presbyterian Cancer Centers. The Hospital's programs in these areas combine the expertise of gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal surgeons with that of specialists in radiology, oncology, and other disciplines to provide patients with access to the most advanced, individualized services and resources.

Diagnostic Innovations

For patients with pancreatic cysts detected via computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), physicians use endoscopic ultrasound to determine whether the cyst is benign, pre-malignant, or malignant.

Therapeutic Excellence

Surgical Advances

Pancreatic and biliary surgery is a very specialized field requiring well-trained and highly experienced surgeons. At NewYork-Presbyterian Cancer Centers, our surgeons apply the latest laparoscopic techniques, helping to improve outcomes and shorten hospital stays. In particular, laparoscopy is being used to remove lesions found both in the body and tail of the pancreas. The Whipple procedure, which is a paradigm for surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer, was developed at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

Both NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center are also focusing on previously inoperable pancreatic tumors. By utilizing sophisticated pre-operative management and laparoscopy to confirm the need for open surgery, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital now has a mortality rate for pancreatectomies that is a fraction of the national rate. In addition, aggressive chemotherapy and radiation are being used to shrink tumors that would otherwise be inoperable.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a major component of the Hospital's multimodal approach to pancreatic tumors. Our radiation oncologists employ state-of-the-art, computer-controlled linear accelerators for routine procedures with the added ability to perform three-dimensional conformal radiation or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). They continue to evaluate methods for optimizing radiation treatment of pancreatic cancer using IMRT.

For patients with tumors of the bile ducts, our radiation oncologists also offer a sophisticated brachytherapy program in which very small catheters are threaded to the site of the tumor to deliver a high dose of radiation.