Pancreatic neoplasms

Question 1

manifestations of pancreatic neoplasms

Answer 1

Patients usually present with some combination of jaundice, unexplained upper abdominal pain. and/or weight loss.
• Head: Painless jaundice tends to be the presenting sign with early-stage cancers of the head of the pancreas.
• Body and tail: These patients are more likely to present with pain and weight loss (jaundice in only -30%) and with the cancer at a much more advanced stage.

Question 2

Diagnosis

Answer 2

Diagnosis is made using helical CT, CT angiography, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided FNA biopsy, and laparoscopy. Note: There is some controversy concerning FNA biopsy possibly seeding the tumor.

Question 3

The most used and very accurate serum marker

Answer 3

cancer-associated antigen 19-9 ( CA 19-9).

Question 4

diagnosis of VIPoma

Answer 4

increased serum VIP level and hypokalemia