Pancreatic tumors exocrine

It wiU be evident from the section on processes of digestion and absorption that the pancreas plays a central role in the absorptive process for carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Disorders of the exocrine pancreas are therefore frequently associated with GI symptoms of malabsorption or diarrhea. In this section, pediatric and adult exocrine pancreatic disorders are briefly discussed and tests for assessing exocrine pancreatic function are described. Information on exocrine pancreatic tumors can be found in the later section on GI regulatory peptides. Recent textbooks on gastroenterology or medicine have more detail on the clinical aspects of exocrine pancreatic disorders. 

I ll. Kloppel G, Luttges J. WHO-classification 2000 exocrine pancreatic tumors. Verb Dtsch Ges Pathol. 2001 85 219-228. 

In the pediatric population, pancreatic tumors are very unusual entities. They account for less than 5% of all malignancies in children. These tumors may arise from the exocrine or endocrine pancreas. Exocrine neoplasias include ductal adenocarcinoma, acinar adenocarcinoma, pancreaticoblastoma, or infantile adenocarcinoma. Endocrine tumors or islet cell tumors are named after the hormone produced, with insulinoma being the most common in children (Walker 1996). 

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth to fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Western world. The prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer is bleak, with an overall 5-year survival rate of <5%. According to the histopathologic classification, there are wide varieties of mahgnant tumors that arise from the exocrine pancreas, adenocarcinoma being by far the most com-... 

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