Pancreatic cancer physical examination
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2];Parminder Dhingra, M.D. [3]
Overview
During physical examination, a clinician may find characteristics of pancreatic cancer in a patient. These include: tenderness, weight loss, or jaundice.
Physical Examination
- The initial presentation varies according to location of the cancer.
- Malignancies in the pancreatic body or tail usually present with tenderness and weight loss, while those in the head of the gland typically present with steatorrhea, weight loss, and jaundice. The recent onset of atypical Diabetes Mellitus, a history of recent but unexplained thrombophlebitis (Trousseau's sign).
- Courvoisier sign defines the presence of jaundice and a painlessly distended gallbladder as strongly indicative of pancreatic cancer, and may be used to distinguish pancreatic cancer from gallstones.