The key difference between seasonal pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis is that pancreatic cancer is a tumor that occurs in the pancreas, while pancreatitis is the swelling and soreness that occur in the pancreas.
Pancreas is a very important organ as well as a gland. It performs two main functions: exocrine function (the pancreas produces enzymes that help with digestion) and endocrine function (sends out hormones that control the amount of glucose in the blood). There are many medical conditions that affect the function of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis are two such conditions.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pancreatic Cancer
3. What is Pancreatitis
4. Similarities – Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreatitis
5. Pancreatic Cancer vs Pancreatitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pancreatic Cancer vs Pancreatitis
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreas is a gland in the abdomen located between the spine and stomach. It makes hormones that control the sugar levels in the blood and enzymes that help digestion. Pancreatic cancer occurs when the cells in the pancreas mutate and multiply without control. This leads to a tumor formation called pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is responsible for approximately 3% of all cancers in the United States. It is the 10th most common cancer in men and the 8th most common cancer in women. The typical symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include jaundice, dark urine, light-coloured stool, upper abdominal pain, middle back pain, fatigue, itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, bloating, lack of appetite, and weight loss. Exposure to certain chemicals like pesticides and petrochemicals, chronic inflammation of the pancreas, and hereditary gene changes (mutations) such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes passed from biological parent to child are several causes of pancreatic cancer.
Figure 01: Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer can be diagnosed through physical examinations, pancreas function tests, imaging tests (CT scan, MRI, PET scan, and endoscopic ultrasound), pancreas blood tests, staging laparoscopy, and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for pancreatic cancer may include surgeries like pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy (erlotinib, olaparib, larotrectinib, and entrectinib), and pain management (oral medications, anesthesia or steroid injections).
What is Pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is due to the short-term or long-term inflammation of the pancreas. This causes soreness and swelling of the pancreas affecting its function. In the United States, acute pancreatitis causes 275,000 hospital stays per year, while chronic pancreatitis leads to 86,000 hospital stays per year. The symptoms of pancreatitis may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fast heart rate, fast and shallow breathing, fever, indigestion, pain after eating, loss of appetite, unintended weight loss, fatty stool, and light-headedness. Moreover, the most common causes of pancreatitis include gallstones and heavy drinking. The other causes are viral infections, autoimmune conditions, inherited gene mutations, complications of cystic fibrosis, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercalcemia, ischemia, cancer, traumatic injuries, and certain medications that irritate the pancreas. The risk factors for pancreatitis include excessive consumption, cigarette smoking, obesity, diabetes, and family history of pancreatitis.
Figure 02: Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis can be diagnosed through physical examinations, pancreas blood tests, imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, glucose tests, stool elastase tests, and fecal fat analysis. Furthermore, pancreatitis is treated through IV fluids, tube feeding, parenteral nutrition, pain relief medication, gallstone removal, antibiotics, procedures to drain fluid or remove dead tissue, enzyme supplements, insulin injections, lifestyle changes (quit drinking and smoking), and surgery.
What are the Similarities Between Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreatitis?
- Pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis are two conditions that affect the pancreas function.
- Both conditions reduce pancreatic enzymes and hormone levels.
- They may have similar symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examinations, blood tests, and imaging tests.
- They are treated through specific medications and surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreatitis?
Pancreatic cancer is a tumor that occurs in the pancreas, while pancreatitis is the swelling and soreness that occurs in the pancreas. This is the key difference between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer is caused by gene mutations in the cells of the pancreas, while pancreatitis is mainly caused by gallstones and heavy drinking.
The following table summarizes the difference between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.
Summary – Pancreatic Cancer vs Pancreatitis
Pancreas is an organ and a gland in the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates that fulfills both endocrine and exocrine functions. Pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis are two medical conditions involving the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer is due to the mutation of cells in the pancreas and multiplication without control. On the other hand, pancreatitis is due to the inflammation of the pancreas. This is the key difference between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.
Reference:
1. “Pancreatic Cancer.” Mayo Clinic.
2. “Pancreatitis.” JHM.
Image Courtesy:
1. “3D Medical Animation Acute Pancreatitis” By Scientific Animations. (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Pancreatic stellate cell activation in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer” By Robert Jaster – Molecular regulation of pancreatic stellate cell function (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia