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The Comprehensive Pancreas Program provides expert care for many conditions affecting the pancreas and bile ducts, including:
Our multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive care for patients with pancreatic cancer, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. We bring together experts in pancreatic surgery, medical and radiation oncology, gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy, radiology, pathology, and genetics to provide coordinated and timely diagnosis, staging, and individualized treatment planning.
Patients have access to the latest treatment advances, including innovative clinical trials across all stages of pancreatic cancer. We also offer ongoing supportive care, including nutritional management, treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, pain and symptom management, palliative care, psychosocial support, and long-term follow-up and survivorship care.
Our dedicated care team helps patients and their families coordinate appointments, understand their treatment options, and access the full range of available services and resources.
Our Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program provides individualized pancreatic cancer risk assessment, screening and long-term monitoring for people at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. People with a family history of pancreatic cancer, certain inherited genetic mutations, or hereditary cancer syndromes may benefit from pancreatic cancer screening.
Genetic and inherited conditions that can increase pancreatic cancer risk include:
Our specialists evaluate each patient’s family history, genetic test results, and other risk factors to determine whether pancreatic cancer screening is appropriate. For people who qualify, screening typically involves specialized MRI (MRI/MRCP) and/or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), with ongoing monitoring based on individual risk.
Our program also participates in leading international collaborations focused on improving pancreatic cancer prevention and early detection. Through these efforts, we help develop and refine approaches to risk assessment, screening, and surveillance, bringing the latest advances in pancreatic cancer care to the patients and families we serve.
Our Pancreas Assessment for Non-High-Risk Patients (PANC) Program provides individualized evaluation for people who are concerned about their risk of developing pancreatic cancer but do not meet established criteria for high-risk screening. This includes people with a single family member, such as a parent, sibling, or child, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Our specialists assess individual risk factors and determine whether additional evaluation, genetic counseling, or screening may be appropriate. Our goal is to provide patients and families with a clear understanding of their risk and a personalized plan for appropriate monitoring and follow-up.
Our Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance Program specializes in the evaluation, monitoring, and management of pancreatic cysts, including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), mucinous cystic neoplasms, and serous cystadenomas. While most pancreatic cysts are benign or have a low risk of developing into pancreatic cancer, some require closer monitoring, additional testing, or surgical evaluation. Our specialists assess each cyst’s risk of becoming cancerous and develop individualized monitoring and treatment plans, helping to identify concerning changes early.
Acute pancreatitis is sudden inflammation of the pancreas that can cause severe abdominal pain, and in some cases, serious complications. The Comprehensive Pancreas Program provides specialized care for patients with acute pancreatitis, recurrent acute pancreatitis (repeated episodes), and complications of severe pancreatitis.
Our specialists evaluate the underlying causes of pancreatitis, including gallstones, alcohol, elevated triglycerides, medications, and other less common causes. We work closely with experts in medical pancreatology, gastroenterology, advanced endoscopy, radiology, and pancreatic surgery to coordinate care for patients with complex or severe pancreatitis, including pancreatic necrosis, pancreatic fluid collections, pseudocysts, and walled-off pancreatic necrosis.
Our program also helps coordinate the transition from inpatient hospital care to outpatient follow-up care, ensuring continuity of care throughout recovery. Our goal is to provide comprehensive treatment, support recovery, and reduce the risk of future episodes.
Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term inflammatory disease of the pancreas that can cause permanent damage, chronic abdominal pain, digestive problems, such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and diabetes. The Comprehensive Pancreas Program provides specialized, multidisciplinary care for patients with chronic pancreatitis, including hereditary pancreatitis and autoimmune pancreatitis.
Our team works together to identify underlying causes, manage symptoms and complications, and preserve pancreatic function. Treatment may include pain management, nutritional support, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, advanced endoscopic procedures, and pancreatic surgery when appropriate. Our goal is to improve quality of life and provide coordinated, long-term care for patients living with chronic pancreatitis.
Autoimmune pancreatitis is a form of pancreatic inflammation caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the pancreas. One type of autoimmune pancreatitis is associated with IgG4-related disease, a condition that can also affect other organs, including the bile ducts, kidneys, salivary glands, and blood vessels. Our program specializes in the diagnosis and long-term management of autoimmune pancreatitis and IgG4-related disease, including treatment with steroids and new, targeted immune therapies.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) occurs when the pancreas does not produce or deliver enough digestive enzymes to properly digest food and absorb nutrients. EPI can develop in patients with chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or following pancreatic surgery, and may cause diarrhea, greasy stools, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies. Our specialists provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of EPI, including pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), nutritional counseling, and monitoring for vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. We work closely with our multidisciplinary team to address the underlying pancreatic disease and improve digestive symptoms, nutritional health, and quality of life.
Our team also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of:
To schedule an appointment with the Comprehensive Pancreas Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, please give us a call at (646) 962-4000 or book online with one of our physicians.
