USPSTF Maintains Stance Against Routine Screening for Pancreatic Cancer

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is again recommending against routinely screening for pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic patients. The grade D draft recommendation reaffirms the group's 2004 guidance.

The task force said it found no evidence for the accuracy of computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, or endoscopic ultrasonography in screening for pancreatic cancer. Additionally, there's no evidence that screening or treating screen-detected pancreatic cancer improves outcomes. On the other hand, screening can bring "at least moderate" harms — for example, false-positives and unnecessary treatments.

The recommendation does not apply to high-risk patients, such as those with a family history of pancreatic cancer or those with inherited genetic syndromes associated with pancreatic cancer.