Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in pancreatic cancer: A review of the literature

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is a well-documented complication of chronic pancreatitis; however, study results of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in pancreatic cancer are less consistent. This applies for patients who are treated non-surgically and those who undergo curative pancreatic cancer resection. This review article summarizes relevant studies addressing pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in pancreatic cancer, with particular differentiation between non-surgically and surgically treated patients, as well as between the different surgeries. We also summarize studies addressing pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in pancreatic cancer. (C) 2015 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.