Pancreatic carcinoma: An Overview

The pancreas is a glandular tissue in our body which plays a vital role as it functions as both an endocrine and an exocrine organ. Pancreatic carcinoma is a malignant condition arising from the glandular element. It is among the most deadly malignancies being the fourth most common cause of death in the USA. The global annual incidence rate for pancreas cancer is about 8/100,000 persons. There is increasing incidence rate of pancreatic carcinoma in developing countries like India which has mainly been associated with lifestyle changes and rapid urbanization. Endocrine neoplasms account for only 1% to 2% of pancreatic tumors. The tumor arising from the exocrine component can be broadly classified into three main categories on the basis of the cells they arise from into, 1)Epithelial tumors, 2)Non-Epithelial tumors and 3)Secondary tumors. Pancreatic head lesions present early because of obstructive symptoms due to common bile duct obstruction in contrary to body and tail masses which presents late. This book intends to give a brief overview of the condition, its types, and various risk factors.