Pancreatic adenocarcinoma and biliary tract tumor morphology and classic presenting features, one finding per card.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- Where in the pancreas do most pancreatic adenocarcinomas arise?
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The head of the pancreas.- What precursor lesion gives rise to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma?
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Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN).- What is the most common histologic subtype of pancreatic cancer?
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Ductal adenocarcinoma.- Why does a tumor in the head of the pancreas classically cause painless jaundice?
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It compresses and obstructs the common bile duct.- What is Courvoisier sign?
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A palpable, nontender, distended gallbladder in a jaundiced patient, suggesting malignant biliary obstruction.- What is Trousseau sign (syndrome) in the context of malignancy?
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Migratory superficial thrombophlebitis, a paraneoplastic finding classically linked to pancreatic adenocarcinoma.- Which oncogene is mutated in the vast majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas?
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KRAS.- Which tumor suppressor gene, involved in TGF-beta signaling, is commonly inactivated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma?
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SMAD4 (DPC4).- Which serum tumor marker is used to monitor pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
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CA 19-9.- What is the leading modifiable risk factor for pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
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Cigarette smoking.- What chronic pancreatic condition raises the risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
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Chronic pancreatitis.- What is the typical prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma?
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Poor, since most patients present at an advanced or unresectable stage.- Why do tumors in the body or tail of the pancreas often present later than head tumors?
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They do not obstruct the bile duct, so there is no early jaundice.- What stromal reaction characteristically surrounds pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma on histology?
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A dense desmoplastic (fibrous) stroma.- What surgical procedure is used to resect a tumor in the head of the pancreas?
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Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy).
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