Pancreatic carcinoma Flashcards

1
Q

How common is pancreatic cancer?

A

9618 new cases of pancreatic cancer in 2014. Ductal denocarcinoma most common. 4th leading cause of cancer deaths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the pathology of pancreatic carcinoma?

A
  • Adenocarcinoma: Acinar, ductal and islet cells in pancreas undergo dysplasia, mainly in the head of the pancreas
  • Neuroendocrine: originate from islet cells. May be functional (secrete hormones)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the risk factors/aetiology of pancreatic cancer?

A
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Age – more common in older people
  • Diet – red meat, high fat
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Family history (HNPCC, FAMMM)
  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • MEN1 – neuroendocrine
  • Von Hipple Lindau – neuroendocrine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the signs/symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

A
  • Epigastric pain – radiates to the back
  • Painless jaundice
  • Weight loss
  • Pruritis – itching of the skin
  • Dark urine – if bile duct blocked
  • Pale stools – if bile duct blocked
  • Trousseau’s syndrome – sign of malignancy involving inflammation of vessels due to blood clots in different locations
  • Courvoisier’s sign – enlarged palpable gallbladder without pain
  • Diabetes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What diseases can present similarly to pancreatic cancer?

A
  • Pancreatitis
  • AAA
  • Gastric/ampullary/hepatocellular/bile duct tumours
  • Intestinal ischemia
  • Cholangitis
  • Cholecystitis
  • Peptic ulcer disease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What investigations are carried out for suspected pancreatic cancer?

A
  • Abdomen/endoscopic US
  • CT
  • MRI – occasionally
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the surgical treatments for pancreatic cancer?

A
  • Whipple procedure – remove head of the pancreas
  • Distil pancreatectomy – remove tail and body of pancreas and spleen
  • Total pancreatectomy – remove whole pancreas, bile duct, gall bladder, spleen, part of small intestine, surrounding lymph nodes
  • ERCP – stent helps to keep bile duct open
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the pharmacological treatments for pancreatic cancer?

A
  • Chemotherapy

* Radiotherapy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly