The difference between pancreatic tumors and pancreatic cancer

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Pancreatic tumors include benign and malignant tumors, with malignant pancreatic tumors commonly referred to as pancreatic cancer. Benign pancreatic tumors include insulinomas, pancreatic cysts, lipomas of the pancreas, or fibromas, which are relatively rare in clinical settings. Whether benign or malignant, including pancreatic cancer, symptoms can include upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice, among other clinical signs. However, distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors requires pathological examination.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

The most common symptom of pancreatic cancer is abdominal pain, typically pain in the upper abdomen. Jaundice is also common, especially in cancers of the head of the pancreas, where it is the most frequent clinical manifestation. Upon physical examination, some patients may have a palpable mass in the upper abdomen. Other common symptoms include gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness after eating, and a decrease in appetite. These are some of the symptoms related to the digestive tract.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system and its incidence has been increasing year by year. The symptoms of pancreatic cancer patients mainly include the following clinically: 1. Abdominal pain, which is a common manifestation in pancreatic cancer patients. It appears as intermittent pain in the early stages and as persistent severe abdominal pain in the middle and late stages. 2. Jaundice, especially common in patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas, tends to appear early. This jaundice is due to the compression of the bile duct by the tumor, often presenting as obstructive jaundice. Patients may also experience dark tea-colored urine and pale clay-colored stools. Additionally, pancreatic cancer patients may also experience symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, fever, and when the cancer metastasizes to other organs, symptoms related to the metastases may appear.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Classification of the Malignancy of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer can also be described as a malignant tumor occurring in the pancreas, generally with a high malignancy level, resulting in a higher probability of patient death. To understand the classification of pancreatic cancer, it can be categorized based on the location of occurrence within the pancreas and the pathological type. Based on the location of occurrence, pancreatic cancer can generally be divided into cancers of the pancreatic head, body, tail, and entire pancreas. According to the pathological types of pancreatic cancer, it can be classified into ductal adenocarcinoma, and also some special types of ductal-origin cancers, which generally include pleomorphic carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, and signet ring cell carcinoma, among others.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Does pancreatic cancer cause bloody stools?

Patients with pancreatic cancer may exhibit clinical symptoms of bloody stools, and the possible causes are as follows: First, the lesion of pancreatic cancer invades organs and tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, causing damage to the mucous membranes, which clinically results in bloody stools. Second, if the pancreatic cancer metastasizes to the liver, liver function is impaired. Some patients may develop hyperactive splenic function, leading to a decline in platelet counts. When platelet levels drop to a certain extent, spontaneous visceral bleeding can occur, which may also manifest as bloody stools clinically. Third, in the late stages of pancreatic cancer, the disease may cause metastasis to multiple organs, leading to the complication of disseminated intravascular coagulation. This results in impaired coagulation function, making gastrointestinal bleeding likely, which is also clinically manifested as bloody stools.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?

The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer are pain in the upper abdomen and jaundice. During physical examination, a mass in the upper abdomen can be felt, which is a common symptom. When these symptoms appear, further abdominal ultrasound or CT scans should be performed, as these two are the most commonly used imaging methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Additionally, pancreatic MRI or PET-CT can also help enhance the diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic cancer. MRCP and ERCP are also used to assess the bile ducts and to evaluate the feasibility of surgery. Blood tests for pancreatic cancer-related tumor markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9, are commonly performed, with CA19-9 being particularly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.