.........
.........
.........
.........
.........
Pancreas Diseases, Pancreatic Cancer and Surgery
Common diseases of the pancreas can be divided into either neoplasms (tumors which can be
cancerous or non-cancerous) or inflammation (pancreatitis). Unfortunately, a solid tumor of the
pancreas is most likely to be pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is commonly
adenocarcinoma, although other types of pancreatic cancer include neuroendocrine (endocrine or islet
cell), squamous, metastatic or lymphomas. In most cases, surgery to remove a portion of the
pancreas containing the tumor is the best possible chance of cure. Examples of the common types of
pancreas surgery include pancreaticoduodenectomy (the “Whipple” operation) or distal
pancreatectomy. Surgery is commonly combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Cysts of the pancreas tumors may be non-cancerous, pre-cancerous, or cancerous. Types of pancreas
cysts include serous cystadenomas, mucinous cystadenomas, intraductal pancreatic mucinous cystic
neoplasms (IPMN), or rarely cystadenocarcinomas. It is important to diagnose the type of
cyst as this will determine treatment. Recommendations for treatment range from observation to
surgery. If surgery is recommended, the surgical resection types are similar to those operations
performed for pancreatic cancer.
LINKS:
