Exocrine pancreas

Question 1

Name the functional unit of the endocrine pancreas and the most important hormones they produce

Answer 1

Islets of Langerhans, insulin and glucagon

Question 2

A congenital disorder in which exocrine secretions are abnormally viscous resulting in retention of secretion in ducts with destruction of the exocrine pancreas

Answer 2

Cystic fibrosis

Question 3

Fat necrosis, oedema and inflammation of the pancreas. Severe form with necrosis and haemorrhage is a medical emergency. Alcohol and gallstones are commonest cause. Serum amylase raised. Fat necrosis in surrounding tissues binds calcium

Answer 3

Acute pancreatitis

Question 4

Continuing inflammatory process resulting in progressive loss of exocrine pancreatic tissue with replacement by fibrosis. Commonest cause is long-term alcohol excess. Conditions obstructing the pancreatic duct are other important causes.
Intestinal malabsorption and diabetes may occur at advanced stage

Answer 4

Chronic pancreatitis

Question 5

Carcinoma of the pancreas is usually….
Arises most commonly in the head of the pancreas where they often compress the common bile duct leading to obstructive jaundice.
Cigarette smoking is most important risk factor, has very poor prognosis

Answer 5

Ductal adenocarcinoma

Question 6

Only potentially curative surgery for carcinoma of head of pancreas

Answer 6

Whipple’s opperation

Question 7

Cancer which arises from endocrine cells, rare.

Production of specific hormones may cause distinct clinical syndromes

Answer 7

Pancreatic endocrine tumours(PETs)