Tumors of the Pancreas

Generality

Tumors of the pancreas are neoplasms, benign or malignant, which originate in the pancreatic gland.

There are two main types of pancreatic cancers: endocrine pancreatic cancers and exocrine pancreatic cancers.
The first type includes all pancreatic neoplasms that develop from a cell of the islets of Langerhans; an example of endocrine pancreatic cancer is insulinoma.
The second type, on the other hand, includes all pancreatic neoplasms that originate from a cell of the pancreas responsible for the production of enzymes necessary for digestion; the most prominent example of exocrine pancreatic cancer is pancreatic cancer.
According to doctors, some particular factors affect the appearance of pancreatic tumors, including: smoking, obesity, old age and chronic pancreatitis.
For a precise diagnosis, it is essential to resort to instrumental examinations (ultrasound, magnetic resonance, CT, biopsy, etc.).
Treatment of pancreatic cancers may include: surgery, chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy.