Pancreas
Anomalies, pancreatitis, cysts and neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas.
11 pages
Lesion
- Acinar cell carcinoma and pancreatoblastomaTwo rare pancreatic cancers come from enzyme-making cells: one in older adults, one in young…
- Acute pancreatitis: morphology and complicationsMild pancreatitis only swells the gland; severe pancreatitis kills tissue and fat, bleeds and…
- Autoimmune pancreatitis: type 1 (IgG4-related) vs type 2Autoimmune pancreatitis is an immune swelling of the pancreas that can look like cancer but…
- Chronic pancreatitis: fibrosis, ductal stones and lost aciniChronic pancreatitis is long-term scarring of the pancreas; it causes pain, poor digestion of…
- Congenital anomalies of the pancreasThe pancreas forms from two buds that must fuse; when they do not fuse or rotate well, ducts…
- Cystic pancreatic neoplasmsSome pancreatic cysts are tumours: serous ones are almost always benign, mucinous ones can turn…
- Non-neoplastic pancreatic cysts: congenital cysts and pseudocystsA pseudocyst is a pocket of pancreatic fluid walled off by scar after pancreatitis; it has no…
- Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaPancreatic cancer is hard, invasive and found late; in the head it blocks the bile duct and…
Mechanism
- Acute pancreatitis: causes, and how trypsin starts self-digestionIn acute pancreatitis digestive enzymes switch on inside the pancreas and start digesting it…
- Genetic pancreatitis: PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR and CTRCSome people inherit genes that let trypsin switch on too easily or stay active too long, so they…
Process
A to Z
Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Representative model, for educational purposes only.