Which diseases should pancreatic cancer be differentiated from?

Clinically, the symptoms of many diseases are similar to those of pancreatic cancer. Only by carefully identifying these diseases can they be discovered and treated early, thereby prolonging the patient's survival period and improving the quality of life.

1. Differentiation from acute and chronic pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is often accompanied by a history of overeating. The disease onset is rapid, with elevated white blood cells and blood and urine amylase. Chronic pancreatitis may cause pancreatic masses and jaundice, which are similar to pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer compression of the pancreatic duct can also cause chronic inflammation of the tissues around the pancreas.

Therefore, it is necessary to carefully distinguish these diseases to avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

2. Differentiation from icteric hepatitis

The early symptoms of the two are easily confused, but the onset of hepatitis requires a history of contact, and jaundice has increased serum transaminase and not high serum alkaline phosphatase. These indicators can be distinguished from pancreatic cancer.

3. Differentiation from periampullary carcinoma

Although periampullary cancer is rare, it often develops suddenly and is dangerous, and can also cause symptoms similar to pancreatic cancer, such as jaundice, weight loss, itchy skin, and gastrointestinal bleeding. However, in the early stages of periampullary cancer, most are polyp-like protrusions, and the cancer itself is soft and elastic, so the jaundice it causes often fluctuates. It is still very difficult to truly distinguish between the two, and ultrasound and CT must be combined to increase the diagnosis rate.