Intra-abdominal Cancer Flashcards
Treatment for malignant hypercalcaemia?
Fluids and bisphosphonates.
What are the key differentials for painless obstructive jaundice?
Pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma.
New onset of diabetes or worsening of glycaemic control in T2D despite good lifestyle measures and medication can be an indicator of what?
Pancreatic cancer
What is migratory thrombophlebitis?
Thrombophlebitis - blood vessels come inflamed with an associated thrombus in that area.
Migratory - thrombophlebitis reoccurring in different locations over time.
What type of cancer is pancreatic cancer?
Adenocarcinoma
Which is the most common part of pancreas to be affected by cancer?
Head
Why does pancreatic cancer cause obstructive jaundice?
Tumour of head of pancreas compresses bile duct, obstructing flow of bile from liver.
Name 3 risk factors for pancreatic cancer
Age, smoking and alcohol.
What are the main symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
Painless jaundice (yellow skin and sclera, pale stools, dark urine and itching), upper abdominal/back pain, weight loss, steatorrhoea, N+V.
What clinical signs would you see on a patient with pancreatic cancer?
Palpable epigastric mass, palpable gallbladder, jaundice.
Define Courvoisers law
In the presence of jaundice and a palpable gallbladder, gallstones is unlikely, it is suggestive of pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma.
What is Trousseau’s sign?
Migratory thrombophlebitis - sign of pancreatic cancer .
What are the referral guidelines for suspected pancreatic cancer?
New onset jaundice in > 40 - 2 week wait referral.
Weight loss + additional symptom in > 60 (diarrhoea, back pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, new onset diabetes) - CT abdomen.
What is the tumour marker for pancreatic cancer?
CA 19-9
What investigations would you do for pancreatic cancer?
Bloods: FBC, U&Es, LFTs, clotting screen, bone profile.
CA 19-9.
CT chest, abdomen, pelvis.
MRCP.
ERCP - stent & biopsy.
What type of surgeries can you do for pancreatic cancer?
Total pancreatectomy.
Distal pancreatectomy.
PPPD (modified Whipple).
Whipple procedure.
What is a Whipple procedure?
Removal of head of pancreas, pylorus of stomach, duodenum, gallbladder, bile duct and relevant lymph nodes. AKA pancreaticoduodenectomy.
What palliative treatments are there for pancreatic cancer?
Stents to relieve obstruction.
Surgery to bypass obstruction.
Chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy.
What is the intervention of choice in patients with malignant distal obstructive jaundice due to unresectable pancreatic cancer?
Biliary stenting.
What is the main risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma?
Primary sclerosing cholangitis.
What is the tumour marker for cholangiocarcinoma?
CA 19-9