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Updated: Dec 24 2017

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Snapshot
  • A 65-year-old smoker has 20 lb weight loss over the last three months that is associated with epigastric pain after eating, diarrhea, and jaundice. PE reveals a palpable non-tender gallbladder and clay colored stool. Labs show a total bilirubin of 8, alkaline phosphatase of 450, and an ALT of 150.
Introduction
  • 90% are adenocarcinoma
    • 60% in head
  • More common in
    • African Americans
    • males
    • cigarette
    • linked to chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus
    • alcohol, gallstones, coffee are NOT risk factors
Presentation
  • Symptoms
    • painless, extra-hepatic obstructive jaundice 
    • weight loss
    • May have postprandial epigastric pain that is relieved by leaning forward
    • diarrhea secondary to malabsorption
  • Physical exam  
    • palpable gallbladder from obstructive distention
    • migratory thrombophlebitis (10% - classic sign of Trousseau syndrome)
      • patients should undergo abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan 
    • left supraclavicular node palpable with metastatic disease
Evaluation
  • Labs
    • increased bilirubin
    • incrased alk phos
    • increased CA19-9  
      • not diagnostic but can be used to follow reponse to therapy
    • mild anemia 
  • CT scan   
  • Ultrasound
    • distended thin-walled gallbladder 
Treatment
  • Head of pancreas
    • Whipple procedure
  • Body and tail
    • Palliative treatment
Prognosis, Prevention, and Complications
  • Five year survival 5% after palliative resection
Question
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