Bengmark, S

UCL Discovery

HPB Surgery 1988, Vol. 1, pp. 1-2Reprints available directly from the publisherPhotocopying permitted by license only1988 Harwood Academic Publishers GmbHPrinted in Great BritainEDITORIALSurgical diseases of the liver, pancreas and biliary tract are very frequent and someare on the increase. The liver is only second to the lymph nodes, the area in the bodywhich is the most frequent site of tumor growth. Manifestations occur in the liver inat least 1/4 of all patients with cancer. Approximately 50% of patients with cancer ofthe digestive tract, sooner or later contract hepatic lesions aswell. In the Westapproximately 90% of the tumors are of secondary nature whilst in some developingcountries 90% of the tumors are of primary nature, the sum, however, is the same.Although gall-stone disease in some countries is decreasing, it is still one of the mostfrequent surgical diseases in the Western world. There was a time whenapproximately 10% of surgical beds were occupied with patients with biliary diseasesin some Western countries. The incidence of pancreatic cancer and liver cirrhosis/portal hypertension is also increasing.The diagnostic arsenal has changed tremendously during recent years. Theavailability of ultrasonography, CT and NMR makes it easier to diagnose malignantdiseases in these organs at a time when they are still treatable. The ultrasoundendoscopy will add further improvement. Today, no more than 20% at the most, ofdiagnosed turriors in the liver and 10% in the pancreas can be surgically resected.This will supposedly increase during the years to come. In addition, ultrasonographyespecially is becoming easily available. Small portable and, compared with othertools, rather inexpensive machines for ultrasonography are available. This makes itpossible to use this technique in small and periferal units as well as in different partsof the larger hospital; emergency room, operation department(s) and the wards.Due to the availability of new tools to be used during operations, such asultrasonography, ultrasound dissectors, jet dissectors, solid organ staplers etc.,operations have become more complex though often easier. In addition, success inthis rather extensive surgery depends much upon the use of good knowledge inpathophysiology and good treatment in intensive care. The availability of soundknowledge about the interior anatomy of the liver, the functions of the sphincter ofOddi, the vascularization of the organs, the spreading of tumors through differentgroups of lymph nodes has made it possible to select suitable operations for eachindividual.Not long ago, surgery of the liver, pancreas and biliary system was ratherstereotype. This has changed dramatically. There are today alternative techniques;non-invasive operations, percutaneous or endoscopical, chemical techniques likedissolution of gall-stones etc. In a few areas the cooperation between differentspecialties has developed to a great extent such as the area of the pancreatic andbiliary system. Sound cooperation between physicians, endoscopists, radiologists,pathophysiologists, clinical physiologists, microbiologists, pathologists andcytologists is of extreme importance for the success of this type of surgery. More andmore centres for HPB surgery are now being established around the world.The rapid development within the field has made it necessary for surgeons andphysicians to have forums for exchange of knowledge and discussions. In this2 EDITORIALpluralistic medical world there is a need for many different attempts to improvecommunications. Until now no journal with a special interest in the surgery of theliver, pancreas and biliary system has existed. We are very thankful to HarwoodAcademic Publishers GmbH for their initiative to fill this gap by establishing thepresent journal. It is the hope of the Editors and the Editorial Board that the journalwill be successful. Success, however, in the end, depends on the contributors.Stig BengmarkSubmit your manuscripts athttp://www.hindawi.comHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013Oxidative Medicine and Cellular LongevityHindawi Publishing Corporation http://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013The Scientific World JournalInternational Journal ofEndocrinologyHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.comVolume 2013ISRN AnesthesiologyHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013OncologyJournal ofHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013PPARResea rchHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013OphthalmologyJournal ofHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013ISRN AllergyHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013BioMed Research InternationalHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013ObesityJournal ofHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013ISRN AddictionHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013 Computational and  Mathematical Methods in MedicineISRN AIDSHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013Clinical &DevelopmentalImmunologyHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.comVolume 2013Diabetes ResearchJournal ofHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative MedicineVolume 2013Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.comHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013Gastroenterology Research and PracticeHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013ISRN BiomarkersHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2013MEDIATORSINFLAMMATIONof

Editorial

http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1313765/1/081529.pdf

Editorial

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

UCL Discovery