Pancreas Conditions

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Your pancreas is a key organ in maintaining your health. As part of your digestive system, it controls your body’s amount of sugar and insulin. So when it's not working correctly, it has a serious effect on both health and well-being. You need a specialized care team working with you to get you back on the road to recovery.

Your pancreas is an elongated, tapered organ located across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The right side of the organ — called the head — is the widest part. It lies in the curve of the duodenum, the first division of the small intestine. The tapered left side, or the body, extends upward and ends near the spleen — called the tail.

Some of the conditions that we treat include:

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most cause of cancer death in the U.S.

Cancer occurs when a damaged cell in the pancreas, or a malignant cell, starts to grow out of control.

There are several types of pancreatic cancers.

Adenocarcinoma, is the most common, and occurs in the lining of the pancreatic duct.
Adenosquamous carcinoma is rare and most often occurs in individuals older than 55. Generally, men are at a higher risk than women.
Squamous cell carcinomaas, is very rare. We give this diagnosis after ruling out metastatic disease and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC).

Pancreatic pseudocyst

A pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid collection within the pancreas. It surrounds a wall of reactive tissue that creates a capsule. This is a result of acute or chronic pancreatitis or leakage from the pancreatic ducts.

Download our handout pancreatic pseudocyst

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is the inflammation and autodigestion of the pancreas. Autodigestion describes a process whereby pancreatic enzymes destroy its own tissue leading to inflammation. The inflammation may be sudden (acute) or ongoing (chronic).

Acute pancreatitis usually involves a single "attack," after which the pancreas returns to normal. Severe acute pancreatitis can be life threatening.

In chronic pancreatitis, permanent damage occurs to the pancreas and its function. This leads to fibrosis or scarring.