Carcinoma of the Pancreas Flashcards
they are mainly_____
exocrine
associated with what?
Associated with smoking, diabetes, familial pancreatitis
Has a very very very bad ______ - because the pancreas is associated so closely with other organs it is hard to remove the tumour
Has a very very very bad prognosis - because the pancreas is associated so closely with other organs it is hard to remove the tumour
what is the symptoms?
PAINLESS JAUNDICE
dark urine
light stool
weight loss
back pain
what are the exocrine tumours
adenocarcinoma - 95%
what are the three types of endocrine tumours
gastrinoma, insulnoma, glucagonoma
produces gastrin and can cause gastric/duodenal ulcers
gastrinoma
what endocrine tumour causes hypoglycaemia
insulinoma
produces insulin - causes the body to store sugar rather than burn it and get hypoglycaemia
what endocrine tumour causes hyperglycaemia?
glucagonoma
what are the first line investigations
USS and LFTs 1st line
Can do ERCP and take brushings
what is stage 1 cancer
Stage I Cancer is confined to the pancreas.
what is stage 2 cancer
Cancer has spread beyond the pancreas to nearby tissues and organs and may have spread to the lymph nodes.
what is stage 3 cancer
Cancer has spread beyond the pancreas to the major blood vessels around the pancreas and may have spread to the lymph nodes.
what is stage 4 cancer
Cancer has spread to distant sites beyond the pancreas, such as the liver, lungs and the lining that surrounds your abdominal organs (peritoneum).
___ is the only curative option
These tumours don’t really respond to chemo or radiotherapy
surgery
