pancreatic cancer is a disorder that is difficult to manage because of its often delayed diagnosis and high potential for metastasis. it most commonly afflicts males, older than 55 years, and can be caused by smoking, alcohol, high animal fat diets, diabetes, and some forms of chronic pancreatitis. it might manifest vaguely at first, with epigastric tenderness, fatigue, nausea, weight loss. pain radiating from the abdomen to the back might indicate retroperitoneal invasion of the splanchnic plexus. pancreatic cancer can also be associated with migratory thrombophlebitis, upper GI bleeding, and diabetes mellitus.
patients with pancreatic cancer might present clinically with epigastric tenderness, signs of jaundice, and significant weight loss. late stage patients might present with ascites, a palpable abdominal mass, and hepatosplenomegaly. the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer might be aided by CEA or alpha FP levels, a chem screen for liver/kidney function, and trypsin levels. additionally, the tumor markers CEA and CA19-9 might be present. ultrasound, CT, biopsy and MRCP (a type of MRI used to visualize the pancreas) are all used to diagnose pancreatic cancer.
pancreatic insufficiency is a functional disorder, much like hypochlorhydria is for the stomach. it is thus difficult to diagnose, sometimes determined by excluding other diagnoses. it can be caused by overeating, excess carbohydrates, excess caffiene, lack of raw foods, and other dietary factors. it might result in indigestion, gas/bloating, low blood sugar, and a "left scapula reflex". the indican test, heidelberg test, and fecal chymotrypsin are used to diagnose, and a CBC shows macrocytic RBC's. treatment strategies are to improve food hygeine and supplement with enzymes.
questions
pancreatic cancer...
1. what is the prognosis of pancreatic cancer?
2. how common is pancreatic cancer in males?
3. what is the gender and age that pancreatic cancer is usually found in?
4. what are the etiologies of pancreatic cancer?
5. initial symptoms are often...
6. what is a common problem with the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?
7. describe the quality of pain experienced in pancreatic cancer?
8. radiation of the pain in pancreatic cancer to the back might indicate...
9. what is a clinical feature present in 90% of pancreatic cancer patients (besides abdominal pain)?
10. what are some of the complications of pancreatic cancer?
pancreatic cancer diagnosis...
11. what are some potential PE findings for pancreatic cancer patients?
12. what are some PE findings for patients with late stage pancreatic cancer?
13. what are some lab tests that might be useful in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?
14. what are two tumor markers useful in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?
15. CA 19-9 is not useful in diagnosing...
16. how specific is the CEA test for pancreatic cancer?
17. what are the imaging techniques used to diagnose pancreatic cancer?
18. what is an MRCP?
19. what are the conventional treatments of pancreatic cancer?
pancreatic insufficiency...
20. what is the etiology of pancreatic insufficiency?
21. approximately how much of the pancreas is functioning at the time of diagnosis of diabetes mellitus?
22. what are the signs and symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency?
23. describe the diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency.
24. what are the labs used in the diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency?
25. what are the treatment strategies for pancreatic insufficiency?
answers
1. 1-2% 5 year survival rate.
2. 4th most common cancer.
3. >55yo men.
4. smoking
age
diabetes
chronic pancreatitis
high animal fat / protein
coffee
alcoholism
5. nonspecific and subtle: fatigue, malaise, nausea, anorexia.
6. delayed diagnosis- 90% of cases already metastasized by the time diagnosis made.
7. midepigastric radiating to mid/lower back.
8. retroperitoneal invasion of the splanchnic nerve plexus by the tumor.
9. significant weight loss.
10. migratory thrombophlebitis, upper GI bleeding, DM, and abdominal masses.
11. midepigastric tenderness, significant weight loss, jaundice.
12. ascites, abdominal mass, hepatosplenomegaly.
13. CEA, alpha FP
chem screen for bilirubin and liver enzymes
trypsin, trypsinogen
14. CA (carbohydrate antigen) 19-9 and CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen).
15. early stage pancreatic cancer.
16. not very specific: many other conditions can lead to elevated CEA levels.
17. US, CT, biopsy, MRCP.
18. type of MRI used to see pancreas, ducts, and bile.
19. chemo/radiation, whipple procedure, painkillers.
20. caffiene
carbohydrates
overeating
lack of raw food
21. 7-9%.
22. indigestion
gas/bloating
left scapula reflex
low blood sugar
23. difficult to do because it is a functional disorder as in hypochlorhydria. may either be through symptoms or via exclusion.
24. indican test, heidelberg test, fecal chymotrypsin, CBC (increased MCV).
25. supplemental enzymes and improving food hygeine.
Pancreatic Cancer is increasing day by day. It is in the fourth position in most prevalant type of cancer. So it is very important to detect it in early stages. For that, scientists have found a new way of blood test which could detect Pancreatic Cancer in early stage. That will be very helpful. Detecting any type of cancer is early stages, helps a lot.
ReplyDelete