Pancreatic Cancer

Question 1

Pancreatic cancer of the head

Answer 1

Def:
* cancer of pancreatic at the head compress biliary tree.

radiological investigation

• when tumor expand, it compress on common biliary duct (CBD)—> causing intra- & extra- hepatic biliary duct dilation
• when tumor expand, it compress on pancreatic duct —> causing a double duct sign (ie, dilation of both CBD & pancreatic duct)

Sign/ symptoms:

• painless jaundice (eg, yellow skin, pruritus, pale stool, dark urine)
• non-tender, distended gallbladder at the right costal margin (Courvoisier sign)
• weight loss
• anorexia

Question 2

Pancreatic cancer of the tail or body

Answer 2

Sign/symptoms:

• abdominal pain
• No jaundice (do not obstruct biliary system)

Question 3

Pancreatic cystic lesion at the tail

Answer 3

Asymptomatic

No jaundice - distance from biliary tree