Pancreatic cancer, also known as adenocarcinoma, is a malignant tumour that originates from the exocrine part of the pancreas. It is the seventh most fatal cancer globally, causing about 460,000 deaths annually. The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing, particularly in developed countries, highlighting the importance of environmental factors in its development.
Pancreatic cancer is most common in elderly patients, with 90% of cases occurring in those over fifty years old, with most being in their seventh or eighth decade of life. Epidemiological studies show that men are more likely to develop the disease. Newly diagnosed diabetes can be an early sign of pancreatic cancer and is a significant risk factor. Smoking increases the risk of pancreatic cancer by seventy percent, and alcohol consumption can lead to chronic inflammation of the pancreas, also increasing the risk.
Pancreatic cancer often presents with symptoms when the disease is already advanced, due to the specific location of the pancreas. Common symptoms include abdominal pain that spreads to the back, jaundice, general weakness and malaise, accelerated weight loss, newly diagnosed diabetes, and unexplained thrombosis of blood vessels with swelling, often in the lower extremities.
Abdominal ultrasound is the initial diagnostic procedure for patients with non-specific abdominal pain. However, it is generally not sufficient for a definitive diagnosis or staging of pancreatic cancer. CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging are necessary for precise diagnosis and staging. CT examination is the most sensitive method for assessing the relationship of the tumour with large blood vessels, which is important for determining resectability. Pancreatic cancer can be resectable, marginally resectable, locally advanced, or metastatic.
Surgical treatment methods can be either potentially radical or palliative. Potentially radical resection of the pancreas is used in patients with resectable or marginally resectable pancreatic cancer. Cephalic duodenopancreatectomy is the surgical method of choice in patients with pancreatic head cancer, while distal pancreatectomy is performed in patients with pancreatic body and tail cancer. Unfortunately, most patients are diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, and a palliative surgical procedure is used to resolve symptoms such as jaundice or vomiting, followed by chemotherapy to improve quality of life and prolong survival.
Prevention of pancreatic cancer involves stopping smoking and drinking alcohol, maintaining a healthy body weight, and following a healthy diet. Precancerous lesions of the pancreas can sometimes be discovered during a routine ultrasound examination, and their removal can prevent the development of cancer. Appearance of diabetes can also be an early signal of pancreatic cancer, and diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound or CT scan are necessary to visualize the pancreas.
