Table 1. Trends in diagnostic procedures, stage and management of pancreatic cancers (%).

	1976–1980 (N=246)	1981–1985 (N=330)	1986–1990 (N=479)	1991–1995 (N=528)	1996–2000 (N=665)	2001–2005 (N=738)
Procedures used for diagnosis
Surgical findings	37.4	40.6	26.7	5.5	3.5	3.5
Cholangiographya	10.0	5.1	10.4	8.8	6.7	3.2
Ultrasonography	6.5	26.7	39.0	87.3	83.9	65.6
Computed tomography	0.0	2.4	27.1	54.6	74.6	79.7
Magnetic resonance imaging	—	—	—	1.1	10.5	9.1
Endoscopic ultrasonography	—	—	—	8.9	11.1	28.5
Stage at diagnosis b
I/II	2.8	4.6	7.8	10.4	8.0	8.8
III	2.0	1.2	2.5	4.8	6.3	5.7
Advancedc	95.2	94.2	89.7	84.8	85.7	85.5
Treatment
Resection for cure	4.5	4.5	8.7	12.5	11.0	11.3
Palliative surgery	57.2	65.9	55.7	48.5	53.3	48.8
Palliative chemotherapy	1.7	3.5	4.4	10.4	28.5	41.8
Palliative radiotherapy	0.0	7.7	4.2	4.8	12.5	8.8
Best supportive cared	37.4	25.7	34.0	37.4	33.2	38.7

^aRetrograde or trans-hepatic diagnostic cholangiography.

^bUnknown: nine cases.

^cMetastatic and/or non-resected cases.

^dIncluding medical biliary stent.