Nutritional management of the patient with pancreatic cancer: from the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway to an integrated hospital-territory approach
V. 174 N. 2 (2023), Review
V. 174 N. 2 (2023)

Nutritional management of the patient with pancreatic cancer: from the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway to an integrated hospital-territory approach: doi: 10.7417/CT.2023.2520

Review
Pubblicato 2023-03-14
V. Gebbia
Medical Oncology Unit, La Maddalena Clinic for Cancer, Palermo, and Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo
R. Guggino
Clinical Nutrition Service, ASP, Palermo, Italy
M. Spada
Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione Giglio, Cefalù, Italy
L. Blasi
Medical Oncology Unit, ARNAS, Palermo, Italy
P. Mezzatesta
Surgical Oncology Unit, La Maddalena Clinic for Cancer, Palermo
P. Marchesa
Surgical Oncology Unit, ARNAS, Palermo, Italy
G. Arena
Surgical Oncology Unit, Fondazione Giglio, Cefalù, Italy
L. Mandalà
Surgical Oncology Unit, La Maddalena Clinic for Cancer, Palermo
A. Firenze
Occupational Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Italy
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Parole chiave

pancreatic cancer
malnutrition
clinical nutritionist
dietician
pathway

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is associated to a high risk of malnutrition and neoplastic cachexia even at first diagnosis. Malnutrition is a negative prognostic factor for the outcome of surgery or medical oncology treatments. Despite the good awareness of the problem and the knowledge of the guidelines, the early recognition of malnutrition and its management are still uneven, mainly due to the lack of implementation of standardized and shared protocols and the shortage of dedicated clinical nutritionists and dieticians. An early and appropriate nutritional intervention is mandatory to improve the outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer at any stage of disease. The Mini Nutritional Assessment is useful tool to screen patients malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The need for the establishment and implementation of an integrated hospital - territorial assistance as well as a home-delivered nutrition service is discussed.

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