It is good to be well prepared for your appointment. Here is some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and know what to expect from your surgeon:

• Write down any symptoms you have had, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Bring with you the radiologic examinations you have had, either in Verona (old examinations may not be stored in our electronic repository) or in other hospitals. These may include CT-scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Abdominal Ultrasonograpy, PET-Scan, ERCP, Abdominal X-ray and others.
• Bring with you the blood tests you have had. These may include red cell count, white cell and platelet count, hepatic and renal function tests, bilirubin, Ca 19.9 or other specific tumor markers (e.g. chromogranin A or other hormones). 
• Write down your past medical history and bring with you your medical records. These include doctor’s notes, hospital admission and discharge summaries, surgical reports, pathology and cytology reports, cardiology reports, and any additional written information that pertains to your visit.
• Make a list of all medications that you’re taking, including the name and dose of each one.
• Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
• Write down questions to ask your surgeon. 

During your appointment, your surgeon may be assisted by young doctors or medical students. Your case will be reviewed, and radiologic examinations and blood tests analyzed. Clinical examination will then be performed. Afterwards, your surgeon will discuss with you the best diagnostic or therapeutic options for your case. Despite each case is peculiar, here are the most common options that may be proposed to you:  

• Surgery. Your operation will be scheduled according to a priority class determined by your surgeon. Routine preoperative work-up will be performed at our day case unit.
• Additional diagnostic work-up. Your surgeon may decide to perform additional imaging, endoscopic examinations or a biopsy to clarify your diagnosis. These examinations are performed at our day case unit. Afterwards, your case will be reviewed, and a therapeutic decision will be undertaken. 
• Referral to another specialist. Your case may be not suitable for surgery. You can be referred to specialists of the Verona Pancreas Institute multidisciplinary team (Gastroenterologists, Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists), who can indicate the best available care plan for you.
• Enrollment in a radiologic surveillance protocol. Your condition may be suitable for a periodic radiologic surveillance. This is the case of some subtypes of cystic neoplasms without malignancy concern. Periodic imaging can be performed at our day case unit. 
• Multidisciplinary discussion. Particularly challenging patient cases can be discussed at the multidisciplinary meetings, which we regularly hold. These meetings are attended by the Verona Pancreas Institute specialists. Input from this range of experts helps us to deliver comprehensive care for our patients.

A the end of your appointment, feel free to ask questions that have not been answered throughout the course of your consultation.