EBM-based Clinical Guidelines for Pancreatic Cancer 2009 From the Japan Pancreas Society: A Synopsis

Abstract

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pancreatic Cancer Based on Evidence-based Medicine, 2006, were published by the Japan Pancreas Society (Committee for Revision of Clinical Guidelines for Pancreatic Cancer) in March 2009 in Japanese and were revised to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pancreatic Cancer Based on Evidence-based Medicine 2009 in July 2009 in Japanese. These guidelines were established according to Evidence-Based Medicine. A total of 443 papers were collected from 2544 reports concerning pancreatic cancer that were listed on PubMed and Igakuchuo Zasshi from July 2004 to April 2007. This new guidelines were written by members of the Committee for Revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pancreatic Cancer in the Japan Pancreas Society. The guidelines show algorithm for the diagnosis (Fig. 1) and treatment (Fig. 2) of pancreatic cancer, address five subjects: diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical therapy and adjuvant therapy, and include 25 clinical questions (CQs) and 39 recommendations. The corresponding CQ numbers are inserted in the algorithms. There are five degrees of recommendation: