cancer of the pancreas Flashcards
most common type of cancer and place
95% exocrine - adenocarcinoma
commonly found in the head of the pancreas, sometimes the tail
where do cancers of the endocrine system arise
in the pancreatic islet cells
gastrinoma
produce gastrin
inc stomach acid
stomach and duodenal ulcers
what are gastrinomas related to
zollinger ellison syndrome
ZE syndrome
association of peptic ulcers with gastrinoma
insulinoma
produces insulin
sugar is stored not burned
hypoglycaemia
glucagonoma
produces glucagon
blood sugar increases
hyperglycaemia
clinical features of cancer - initial vague symptoms
nausea vomiting and fatigue
clinical feature - weight
weight loss, due to cancer associated anorexia or malabsorption
what can malabsorption cause
steatorrhoea
clinical feature - pain
epigastric that radiates to back
worse when lying flat
what happens if the tumour is in the head of the pancreas
blocks the CBD - painless obstructive jaundice
what does jaundice cause
dark urine and pale stool
lead to pruritus
what can happen if the endocrine pancreas is affected
new onset of diabetes
risk factors - lifestyle
charred meat, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity