Carcinoma of Pancreas
Definition and Types
- Carcinoma of pancreas is a type of cancer that originates in the pancreas.
- There are two main types of pancreatic cancer: exocrine (adenocarcinoma) and endocrine (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors).
Epidemiology and Risk Factors
- Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer worldwide.
- Risk factors include age, smoking, diabetes, obesity, family history, and certain genetic syndromes.
- The disease is more common in developed countries.
Pathology and Progression
- Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of pancreatic cancer.
- It arises from the ductal cells of the pancreas.
- The disease progresses through several stages, from dysplasia to carcinoma in situ, and finally to invasive cancer.
Clinical Features
- The clinical features of pancreatic cancer include:
- Abdominal pain (60-90%)
- Weight loss (50-80%)
- Jaundice (25-50%)
- New-onset diabetes (20-30%)
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
Laboratory Investigations
- The laboratory investigations for pancreatic cancer include:
- CA 19-9 tumor marker
- Liver function tests
- Blood glucose
Imaging for Diagnosis and Staging
- Imaging modalities for pancreatic cancer include:
- Ultrasound (USG)
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT)
TNM Staging System and Prognostic Importance
- The TNM staging system is used to stage pancreatic cancer based on the size and extent of the tumor, lymph node involvement, and metastasis.
- The prognosis is worse with higher stages of the disease.
Surgical Management
- Surgical management of pancreatic cancer includes:
- Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy)
- Distal pancreatectomy
Complications
- Complications of pancreatic cancer include:
- Biliary obstruction
- Duodenal obstruction
- Metastasis
Homoeopathic Therapeutics for Carcinoma of Pancreas
- Homoeopathic medicines for carcinoma of pancreas include:
- Phosphoric acid 30
- Calcarea carbonica 30
- Lachesis 30
- Ignatia 30
- Carcinosin 30