What happens if there is a mass in the pancreas?

The pancreas is a very important organ in the body. The pancreas can secrete substances that help digestion. Therefore, without a pancreas, people's digestive function will be greatly affected. The health of the pancreas is very easy to be affected. For example, the phenomenon of pancreatic lumps is quite common in life. Let's take a look at what happens if there are lumps in the pancreas? I hope everyone can understand.

The pancreas is an important organ in the human body. It secretes pancreatic juice to aid digestion and has complex endocrine functions. In addition to the common pancreatic cancer, pancreatic malignancies also include the possibility of pancreatic (neuro)endocrine tumors.

Most pancreatic cancers originate from the duct system of the exocrine pancreatic glands. Pancreatic cancer is highly malignant. In addition to the discovery of pancreatic tumors, clinical manifestations may include anorexia, weight loss, upper abdominal or lower back pain, yellow skin, etc. Blood CA199 levels are often significantly elevated.

Pancreatic endocrine tumors originate from the endocrine cells of the pancreas (islet cells), including gastrinoma, insulinoma, glucagonoma, VIP tumor, etc. The symptoms caused by the corresponding hormones are more prominent, and some pancreatic endocrine tumors are non-functional tumors. Most pancreatic endocrine tumors, except insulinoma, are malignant and have a relatively better prognosis than pancreatic cancer. The CA199 test result of pancreatic endocrine tumor is generally not high.

Symptoms:

1. Some pancreatic body and tail tumors may cause thrombophlebitis of the limb veins, resulting in local limb edema.

2. In addition to jaundice, physical examination may also reveal upper abdominal tenderness. In the late stage, a nodular, hard mass may be felt in the upper abdomen. If jaundice is accompanied by an enlarged gallbladder, it is an important evidence of pancreatic head cancer. Due to cholestasis, an enlarged liver is often palpable. If the cancer compresses the splenic vein or the splenic vein is thrombosed, an enlarged spleen may be felt.

3. In late-stage cases, ascites may occur, and hard and swollen metastatic lymph nodes may be palpated in the left supraclavicular or anterior rectal fossa.