Pancreatic Cancer Flashcards
What are the risk factors of pancreatic cancer?
Smoking
Alcohol
Chronic pancreatitis
DIABETES
Mutations in the KRAS2 gene
What are the types of pancreatic cancer
75% Duct cell mucinous adenocarcinomas
The rest -
- Carcinosarcoma
- Acinar cell
- Cystadenocarcinoma
What is the most common type of pancreatic cancer?
Duct cell mucinous adenocarcinoma
Symptoms of PC?
Anorexia/weight loss
Fatigue
Diarrhoea
Steatorrhoea
Nausea
Jaundice
Epigastric pain
Signs of PC?
Subcutaneous fat nodules
Hepatomegaly
Upper GI mass
Splenomegaly
Palpable, painless gall bladder (Courvisier’s rule)
Investigation?
USS
EUS
Bloods
LFTs
- Bilirubin up
ERCP in obstructive jaundice
What is the survival rate?
Very low
5 yr <2%
What operation can be done that increases the survival rate?
Whipple’s Procedure
What is whipple’s procedure?
Pancreaticoduodenectomy with Roux en Y reformation
What is the indication for whipples procedure?
Cancer in the head of the pancreas
<3cm
Palliative treatment?
Chemotherapy
Jaundice
- ERCP stent insertion
- Palliative bypass
Pain relief
- High dose opiates
- Coeliac plexus block
