Pancreatic cancer overview
|
Pancreatic cancer Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Pancreatic cancer overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pancreatic cancer overview |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Pancreatic cancer overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumour within the pancreatic gland.
About 95 percent of pancreatic tumors are adenocarcinomas (Template:ICDO). The remaining 5 percent include other tumors of the exocrine pancreas (e.g. serous cystadenomas), acinar cell cancers, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (such as insulinomas, Template:ICDO, Template:ICDO). These tumors have a completely different diagnostic and therapeutic profile, and generally a more favorable prognosis.[1]
Risk Factors
Pancreatic cancer is associated to a number of predisposing risk factors such as age, gender, specific ethnicities, and environmental exposures.
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Depending on the extent of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis is generally regarded as poor, with few victims still alive five years after diagnosis, and complete remission still extremely rare.[1]
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
In the early stages of pancreatic cancer there are not many noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses symptoms include jaundice, light-colored stools or dark urine, pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back, weight loss, loss of appetite and fatigue
Physical Examination
During physical examination, a clinician may find characteristics of pancreatic cancer in a patient. These include: pain,. weight loss, or jaundice.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
The selection of a treatment intervention depends largely on the disease progression and the patient's stage of cancer. Chemotherapy may be employed when surgical intervention is not deemed appropriate.
Surgery
The selection of a treatment intervention depends largely on the disease progression and the patient's stage of cancer. The most common surgical treatment for cancer involving the pancreas is theWhipple procedure.
Treatment by Stage
The selection of a treatment intervention depends largely on the disease progression and the patient's stage of cancer. The most common surgical treatment for cancer involving the pancreas is theWhipple procedure.
Primary Prevention
Research suggest that lifestyle factors such as change in diet, exercise, and maintenance of weight, can influence the likelihood an individual develops pancreatic cancer.