Pancreatic Cancer Flashcards
Most tumours found where
Exocrine glands
Specifically found where
Epithelial cells
Called adenocarcinoma
Cancer occurs due to
Mutation but not clear which gene
Risk factors
Smoking
Obesity
Diet high in red meat
Non modifiable
Male black over 65
Other disease as risk factor
Diabetes
Chronic pancreatitis
Liver cirrhosis
(All related to alcohol abuse)
Symptoms
Nausea vomiting fatigue
Weight loss
Mid epigastric pain radiates or mid/lower back, worse when lying flat
Malabsorption occurs due to
Obstructed duct leading to foul smelling greasy loose stool (steatorrhea)
Signs described
Trousseau - blood clots feel like lumps under skin
Courvoiser sign- gall bladder enlarged and palpable
If tumour in head of pancreas then
Common bile duct is blocked
Cause obstructive jaundice
Loss appetite
Lighter stool/ darker urine
Yellow itchy skin
Obstruct endocrine function ?
New onset of diabetes in old patient suggest cancer
What can we use lab findings for
Nothing not specific enough
As smokers have same increased levels
Medical imaging used for
Diagnosis and staging
Also to see if it is resectable
Stages
1) less than 2cm
2) over 2cm
3) grown into neighbour tissue
4) metastatic
Treatment
Chemo to shrink tumour before surgery
Or after
Or instead of surgery
