Is a pancreatic tumor the same as pancreatic cancer?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Pancreatic tumors include benign and malignant tumors of the pancreas. Common benign pancreatic tumors include insulinomas, which can cause hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin secretion. Other benign tumors of the pancreas include adenomas, lipomas, and fibromas, which are relatively rare clinically. Malignant tumors of the pancreas are commonly referred to as pancreatic cancer, which has a high degree of malignancy. Early-stage pancreatic cancer patients are primarily treated with surgery.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed?

Ultrasound, CT, MRI, ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography), PTCD (Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangio Drainage), angiography, laparoscopy, tumor markers measurement, cancer gene analysis, etc., are significantly helpful in confirming the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and determining whether it is resectable surgically. Generally, ultrasound, CA199, and CEA can be used as screening tests. Once pancreatic cancer is suspected, a CT scan is necessary. If the patient has jaundice, especially severe, and a CT scan cannot confirm the diagnosis, ERCP and PTCD can be considered. If internal drainage is successful, surgery can be delayed for one to two weeks for patients with severe jaundice. The diagnostic value of MRI for pancreatic cancer is not superior to CT. If pancreatic cancer has been confirmed but it is uncertain whether it can be surgically removed, choosing angiography and laparoscopy is also clinically meaningful.

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

Some common symptoms of advanced pancreatic cancer include abdominal pain and upper abdominal pain, and it is even possible to feel an obvious lump in the abdomen. Jaundice is also a common symptom. Some patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain, even ascites, which is a sensation of abdominal fullness. They are unable to eat, and eating can worsen the bloating. These clinical manifestations are accompanied by clearly noticeable abdominal pain. There are also symptoms associated with distant organ metastasis, such as when metastasis to the lungs can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and even hemoptysis. Some patients may experience extensive abdominal metastasis, which can even lead to intestinal obstruction and other clinical presentations.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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What department should pancreatic cancer patients see?

For the treatment of pancreatic cancer, if it is in the early stages and the surgeons assess that surgery is feasible, surgical treatment is the main approach. If surgery is not feasible according to the surgeon's assessment, or if the cancer is found at an advanced stage without the opportunity for surgery, then the treatment involves chemotherapy or some symptomatic supportive treatments. Therefore, patients at their first consultation should initially visit the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery to see if surgery is possible, and then consult the Department of Oncology for further treatment steps, especially for patients who do not have the opportunity for surgery, who need to visit the Department of Oncology.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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What is used for pain relief in pancreatic cancer?

If a pancreatic cancer patient is experiencing pain, the choice of pain medication can be based on the specific severity of the pain. For mild pain, mild pain relievers such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules can be chosen initially. For moderate pain, pain relievers like tramadol can be used. If the daily dosage of tramadol exceeds eight tablets, which is two tablets each time, taken every six hours, and if the pain relief is still inadequate after 24 hours, then it might be appropriate to switch to opioid painkillers such as hydromorphone sustained-release tablets, morphine sustained-release tablets, or morphine.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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How to deal with lower limb edema in advanced pancreatic cancer?

In late-stage pancreatic cancer, bilateral lower extremity edema should be considered possibly due to hypoalbuminemia, which leads to edema in both legs. It is also possible that cancer emboli in late-stage pancreatic cancer block the venous system, causing impaired venous return and resulting in bilateral lower extremity edema. To determine the specific cause, it is necessary to complete ultrasonographic examinations of the blood vessels in the lower limbs, as well as liver function tests, complete blood count, and others. After clarifying the diagnosis, appropriate treatment measures should be taken based on the different causes. For example, if the edema is caused by hypoalbuminemia, active supplementation with albumin and diuretics, among other treatments, is required. (Note: The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)