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Pancreatic carcinoma



Digestive system
Digestive system
Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Pancreatic cancer, CT scan
Pancreatic cancer, CT scan
Pancreas
Pancreas
Biliary obstruction - series
Biliary obstruction - series


Pancreatic carcinoma

Definition:

Pancreatic carcinoma is a malignancy (cancer) of the pancreas.


Alternative Names:
Pancreatic cancer; Cancer - pancreas
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S. The disease is slightly more common in men than in women, and risk increases with age.

The cause is unknown, but it is more common in smokers and in obese individuals. Almost 1/3 of cases of pancreatic carcinoma can be attributed to cigarette smoking. There is controversy as to whether type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. A minority of cases are known to be related to hereditary syndromes.




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