Benefits of screening for pancreatic cancer in new-onset diabetes mellitus

Background: The incidence-mortality ratio of pancreatic cancer is close to 1. Screening of the average population is not cost-effective because the lifetime prevalence of pancreatic cancer is only 1.39%. Diabetes mellitus seems to be an independent risk factor for pancreas cancer. Objective: To assess the role of noninvasive diagnostic means (serum CA 19 – 9 level, transabdominal ultrasonography/US/and computer tomography/CT/) in screening for pancreas cancer among patients with new-onset diagnosed (within 36 months) diabetes mellitus. Methods: Patients with new-onset type-2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in a…