Pancreatic tumors

Pancreatic tumors are of two types, benign and malignant.

They are categorized as:

• Adenocarcinoma,

• Neuroendocrine tumors

• Cystic neoplasm.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most frequent tumor of the pancreas.

Risk factors

• Cigarette smoking

• Chronic pancreatitis

• Tobacco chewing

• Genetic mutations

Symptoms

• Pain in the upper abdomen

• Jaundice

• Weight loss

• Loss of appetite

Diagnosis

Tests recommended in patients with suspected adenocarcinoma are

• Endoscopic ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration are the tests for confirming the diagnosis

• Ultrasonography abdomen

• CT scan

Treatment

• Surgical resection is the most suitable option. However, resection can be performed in only 20 % of tumors.

• Other treatment modalities include chemotherapy. Placement of stent in common bile duct relieves jaundice and in duodenum used for preventing the vomiting attack.

Neuroendocrine tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors develop from islet cells, categorized as:

• Insulinoma

• VIPoma

• Gastrinoma

• Non-Functional tumor

• Somatostatinoma

Symptoms

Symptoms of this tumor vary according to the tumor type and the hormones that are secreted.

Common symptoms include:

• Recurrent ulcer formation

• Diarrhea

• Hypoglycemia

Treatment

• Primary treatment is surgery

• Chemotherapy and somatostatin analogue indicated in case of metastatic diseases

Cystic neoplasm

Cystic neoplasm is mostly detected by an incident. It needs to be differentiated from pseudocysts.

The most common type of cystic neoplasm includes:

• Serous cystadenoma

• Mucinous cystadenoma

• Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm

• Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN)

Symptoms

• Small lesions are usually asymptomatic and assessed by imaging

• Large lesions can cause pain or jaundice

Diagnosis

Diagnostic tests include:

• Ultrasonography of the abdomen

• CT scan of abdomen

• EUS is recommended for diagnosis and differentiation. Cyst fluid is aspirated for analysis

• Disease is confirmed with the help of imaging modality such as Endoscopic ultrasound or by performing FNAC

Treatment

• Small asymptomatic lesions require regular monitoring

• Large or symptomatic lesions require resection

Need Expert Medical Guidance for Pancreatic tumors?

Consult University Gold Medalist Dr. Ankita Gupta at Gastro Liver Endoscopy Centre, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi for customized diagnostic evaluations.