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Pancreatic cancer: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a malignancy with one of the highest mortality rates. It’s aggressive, causes no early symptoms, and is difficult to treat. It mostly affects elderly men. About 85% of cases are irresectable at the time of diagnosis due to being metastatic or locally advanced. == Etiology == * Smoking * Chronic pancreatitis * Alcoholism * Obesity == Pathology == Pancreatic adenocarcinoma accounts for almost all malignant exocrine pancreatic cancer (the...") |
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Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a malignancy with one of the highest mortality rates. It’s aggressive, causes no early symptoms, and is difficult to treat. It mostly affects elderly men. | '''Pancreatic adenocarcinoma''' is a malignancy with one of the highest mortality rates. It’s aggressive, causes no early symptoms, and is difficult to treat. It mostly affects elderly men. | ||
About 85% of cases are irresectable at the time of diagnosis due to being metastatic or locally advanced. | About 85% of cases are irresectable at the time of diagnosis due to being metastatic or locally advanced. | ||
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== Etiology == | == Etiology == | ||
* Smoking | * [[Smoking]] | ||
* Chronic pancreatitis | * [[Chronic pancreatitis]] | ||
* Alcoholism | * [[Alcohol|Alcoholism]] | ||
* Obesity | * [[Obesity]] | ||
== Pathology == | == Pathology == | ||
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Pancreatic cancer generally causes symptoms late, which contributes to the poor prognosis. Tumours in the pancreatic head cause symptoms earlier than tumours in the body or tail. | Pancreatic cancer generally causes symptoms late, which contributes to the poor prognosis. Tumours in the pancreatic head cause symptoms earlier than tumours in the body or tail. | ||
When symptoms do occur, jaundice, weight loss, anorexia, abdominal pain, vomiting, and constitutional symptoms may occur. Delayed gastric emptying occurs in up to 60% of people with pancreatic cancer and may contribute to the symptoms of anorexia and vomiting. Obstruction of the biliary tract is what leads to jaundice. | When symptoms do occur, [[jaundice]], weight loss, [[anorexia]], abdominal pain, vomiting, and constitutional symptoms may occur. Delayed gastric emptying occurs in up to 60% of people with pancreatic cancer and may contribute to the symptoms of anorexia and vomiting. Obstruction of the biliary tract is what leads to jaundice. | ||
Invasion of nearby structures can cause chronic abdominal pain. | Invasion of nearby structures can cause chronic abdominal pain. | ||
Courvoisier sign may be present. It refers to an enlarged, nontender gallbladder with painless jaundice. This contrasts with cholelithiasis, in which the gallbladder is tender. | [[Courvoisier sign]] may be present. It refers to an enlarged, nontender gallbladder with painless [[jaundice]]. This contrasts with [[cholelithiasis]], in which the gallbladder is tender. | ||
Trousseau syndrome may also be present. It refers to a migratory, superficial thrombophlebitis. | [[Trousseau syndrome]] may also be present. It refers to a migratory, superficial thrombophlebitis. | ||
== Diagnosis and evaluation == | == Diagnosis and evaluation == | ||
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Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is very aggressive. Metastases are often present upon diagnosis. It frequently invades local structures and can even invade the portal vein itself. If the tumor invades other structures locally is it frequently considered inoperable. The 5-year survival rate is less than 5%. | Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is very aggressive. Metastases are often present upon diagnosis. It frequently invades local structures and can even invade the portal vein itself. If the tumor invades other structures locally is it frequently considered inoperable. The 5-year survival rate is less than 5%. | ||
[[Category:Gastrointestinal surgery]] | [[Category:Gastrointestinal surgery]] | ||
[[Category:Gastroenterology]] | |||