Pancreatic Cancer – Symptom, Causes & Diagnosis

Pancreatic cancer

Symptoms

• jaundice,
• pain in the upper abdomen or back
• nausea and vomiting
• change in bowel motions – either diarrhoea or severe constipation
• Bloating, early fullness with meals or swelling in the abdomen.
• Pale-colored stools.
• Indigestion/heartburn
• Fever and shivering
• Malaise
• Elevated blood sugars.
• Itchy skin
• Weight loss and poor appetite
• Gallbladder enlargement
• Blood clots

Causes of Pancreatic cancer
• Age:
• Diabetes:
• Genetics:
• Race:
• Religious background:
** Other reasons include
• Chronic pancreatitis:
• Obesity:
• Diet:
• Cigarette smoking:

Diagnosis
Computed tomography (CT) scan
CT-guided needle biopsy:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Special types of MRI scans include:
• MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP),
• MR angiography (MRA), Ultrasound
Abdominal ultrasound:
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS):
Cholangiopancreatography
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP):
Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC):
Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS)
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Angiography
Blood tests
Liver function tests:
Blood test for Carcinoid tumors:
Biopsy
Percutaneous biopsy:
Endoscopic biopsy:
Surgical biopsy: