Imaging understanding of the updates of the classification for pancreatic cancer in the American Joint Committee on Cancer cancer staging manual (8th edition)

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor with a high mortality. Surgery is the only potential hope of cure for patients with pancreatic cancer. Imaging examination plays an essential role in both the early diagnosis and preoperative assessment. Accurate tumor staging has guiding significance for clinical practice. Appropriate therapeutic schedule will be selected according to the tumor staging, and then patients′ pro-gnosis can be evaluated. Recently，the TNM staging systems for pancreatic cancer have been updated by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Major changes were made in the T and N staging. This article will review the updates of the 8th edition of AJCC cancer staging for pancreatic cancer from radiography aspect.