American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Resectable pancreatic tumors are confined to which stages?

1. Only stage I

2. Stage IA, IB, and IIA

3. Stage II and III

4. All stages

The correct answer is: Stage IA, IB, and IIA

Resectable pancreatic tumors are typically classified as those tumors that can be completely removed surgically, and this primarily corresponds to certain early stages of the disease. Specifically, stage I pancreatic tumors, which are divided into IA and IB, indicate that the cancer is still localized to the pancreas without invasion into surrounding tissues or distant metastasis. Additionally, tumors categorized as stage IIA, while showing some limited local advancements, still present with a chance for curative surgical intervention. In these stages, the disease is typically contained within the pancreas or has extended into nearby structures without significant vascular involvement or metastases that would preclude an effective surgical resection. In contrast, stage II tumors may begin to show signs of regional spread, making them potentially unresectable depending on specific circumstances like involvement of major blood vessels. Stage III tumors generally represent locally advanced disease that has invaded surrounding tissues, indicating a far less favorable situation for surgical removal. Thus, the statement that resectable pancreatic tumors are confined to stages IA, IB, and IIA aligns well with current medical guidelines regarding the surgical management of pancreatic cancer. These designations signal the opportunity for effective treatment through surgery, aimed at improving outcomes for patients diagnosed with this tough condition.