How pancreatic cancer metastasizes

Pancreatic cancer can metastasize in the following ways:

1. Direct spread

Infiltrate into surrounding tissues, including the lower end of the common bile duct, duodenum, stomach and transverse colon.

(II) Lymphatic metastasis

Cancer of the pancreatic head often metastasizes to the subpyloric lymph nodes, while cancer of the pancreatic body and tail mainly metastasizes to the pancreatosplenic lymph nodes and may also invade the mesenteric and para-aortic lymph nodes.

(III) Hematogenous metastasis

It often metastasizes to the liver through the portal vein, and then from the liver through the superior and inferior vena cava to the lungs.

4. Spread along the nerve sheath

Persistent back pain often caused by invasion of the lymphatic vessels surrounding the retroperitoneal nerves

5. Peritoneal implantation

Includes the greater and lesser omentum.