Pancreatic cancer as a complication of chronic pancreatitis – diagnostic approach

Abstract

Patients with underlying chronic pancreatitis (CP) are at increased risk of pancreatic cancer (PC) development. The pathogenesis of the neoplastic transformation remains unclear. However, chronic inflammation, pancreatic stellate cells over-proliferation and genetic alterations play a major role in carcinogenesis progression. Early diagnosis and differentiation between benign and malignant disease is of a great importance. Better understanding the connection of the two entities could provide new therapeutic options.