How is Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosed?
Signs and Symptoms Generally, the most common symptoms of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas include loss-of-appetite, weight loss, abdominal discomfort and nausea. As these are all fairly non-specific symptoms, there is often delay in getting to the final diagnosis. The most common physical sign of pancreatic cancer is jaundice, with or without associated itching. Preceding to a medical evaluation often requires a high index of suspicion by the patient or by medical personnel. Laboratory Often lab results show a high bibirubin (bile pigment found in the serum) and elevated liver function enzymes. The CA 19-9 marker, a Lewis blood group-related mucin, is frequently elevated in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, but its use in the screening for or diagnosis of the cancer is presently not an accepted practice. High CA 19-9 results may tend to be associated with (but do not always indicate) larger sized tumors and with a decreased likelihood of surgical resectability. The use of this marker is m
