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 Gastrointestinal Cancer, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery

Pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic carcinoma

Digestive system
Digestive system
Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Pancreatic cancer, CT scan
Pancreatic cancer, CT scan
Pancreas
Pancreas
Biliary obstruction - series
Biliary obstruction - series

Definition:

Pancreatic carcinoma is cancer of the pancreas.

Alternative Names:
Pancreatic cancer; Cancer - pancreas
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. The disease is slightly more common in men than in women, and risk increases with age.

The cause is unknown, but it is more common in smokers and in obese individuals. Almost a third of cases of pancreatic cancer are due to cigarette smoking. There is controversy as to whether type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. A small number of cases are known to be related to syndromes that are passed down through families.

Symptoms:
Signs and tests:
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

Review Date: 9/11/2006
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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