Pancreatic cancer or exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis? MCSC patient history

News 07/05/2022

A 62-year-old patient was admitted for treatment to the Department of Pathology of the pancreas and biliary tract MCSC.

• He has had chronic pancreatitis since 2015. But at the same time he does not comply diet, smokes 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day. 

In December 2021, he developed intense pain in the upper abdomen.

• A few days later, the patient also noted that the urine had turned dark and the skin yellow.

In the district hospital, doctors diagnosed pancreatic cancer. 

For the outflow of bile, an external drainage was installed and a biopsy was taken from the pancreas. 

• According to the results of the study, no atypical cells were obtained.
• After that, the patient was discharged and recommended to be observed by a district oncologist. 

He was also prescribed a fairly strict diet with large restrictions: only cereals and vegetable soups. 

• But given the severe pain, the patient severely restricted himself in nutrition and lost more than 20 kg in 4 months.
• After that, in May 2022, he was hospitalized in the Department of pathology of the pancreas and biliary tract of the MCSC.

To confirm or refute the diagnosis, our doctors conducted a comprehensive examination:

• The patient showed signs of iron deficiency anemia and a decrease in the level of total protein.  
• And according to ultrasound, there are signs of neoplasm in the pancreas. 

For a more detailed assessment of the formation, specialists performed CT with intravenous contrast and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, according to which it became clear that this soft-tissue formation of the pancreas was the result of an inflammatory process.  Oncomarkers turned out to be within the normal range. Therefore, in this case, the suspicion of a pancreatic tumor was not confirmed.

• And the patient was diagnosed with exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis.

He was prescribed therapy to improve blood properties, measures to reduce pain, anti-inflammatory therapy, poly-enzyme replacement therapy and correction of iron deficiency anemia.

The complex treatment had a positive effect: during the stay in the department, the patient gained 3 kg in weight, the pain decreased significantly, the blood values returned to normal. 

The patient was discharged with good health, he was given recommendations on the need to comply with the diet and lifestyle, as well as to continue taking medication to improve well-being. 

The differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis is very difficult, and it is not always possible to establish the correct diagnosis the first time. 

• Such patients should undergo a comprehensive examination in expert-level centers. 

Specialists of the Department of Pathology of the pancreas and Biliary Tract of MCSC have extensive experience in treating patients with various diseases of the pancreatobiliary zone and work closely with colleagues from other departments, which improves the quality of diagnosis and treatment.