Pancreatic cancer Flashcards
1
Q
How common is it + who affected
A
<2% of all cancers
Male >60 years
2
Q
What causes it + where do they appear
A
- 95% have mutations on the KRAS2 gene
- Mostly ductal adenocarcinomas (met early, present late)
- 60% arise in the head
- 25% body
- 15% tail
- few in ampulla of Vater
3
Q
What are the risk factors
A
- Smoking
- alcohol
- carcinogens
- DM
- chronic pancreatitis
- possibly high fat diet.
4
Q
What are the symptoms
A
- Head of the pancreas tumours –> painless obstructive jaundice
- 75% tail/body tumours –> epigastric pain radiating to back, relieved by sitting forward.
- All: anaemia, weight ↓, diabetes, acute pancreatitis.
5
Q
What are the signs
A
Jaundice palpable gall bladder epigastric mass hepatomegaly splenomegaly lymphadenopathy ascites
6
Q
How do you treat it
A
- Most present with mets so <10% suitable for radical surgery.
- Surgery: Whipple’s (pancreatoduodenectomy)
