Pancreatobiliary cancer is currently difficult to treat as it continues to increase compared to the tumors in other areas. KUMC Pancreatobiliary Center is established in order to provide world-class medical services for the life extension and improvement of the quality of life of the patients based on the latest treatment techniques and active research.
Pancreatic/biliary tract cancer ranked 10th to 12th in the frequency of cancer incidence rate, and 8th to 10th in males for the overall cancer incidence rate per organ in Korea.
In addition, the occurrence of pancreatic/biliary tract cancer is expected to increase further due to the growth in the elderly population, high smoking rate, and Westernization of diet. Clinical symptoms are nonspecific; however, abdominal pain, jaundice, and weight loss may occur. Pancreatic/biliary tract cancer should be suspected in patients with these symptoms, and diagnostic tests must be performed early.
Diagnostic tests include blood tests, ultrasonography, CT or MRI, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. PET may be helpful in distinguishing from pancreatitis. The specialized staff at KUMC Pancreatobiliary Center uses state-of-the-art equipment.
Pancreatic, gallbladder, and biliary tract cancers are often found in an inoperable state at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, a combination of the endoscopic treatment of the Department of Gastroenterology and the intervention office of the Department of Radiology is requested for the treatment of biliary obstruction complications caused by a tumor. In order to perform this joint surgical techniques quickly and appropriately, the close and systematic relationship between the Department of Gastroenterology, Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, and Department of Radiology is absolute in order to effectively manage the patients. For this reason, KUMC Pancreatobiliary Center is created in order to provide high-quality medical services through the establishment of a systematic and efficient relationship among the medical departments. Moreover, KUMC Pancreatobiliary Center strives to obtain the best results in the pancreatic/biliary tract cancer field by performing many clinical and intervention research, including the development of early cancer diagnostic technique, endoscopic treatment of cancer, photodynamic therapy, new surgical techniques, and active chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
