Linking To Google Searches On Pancreatic Tumors

Link to The National Cancer Institute‘s Pancreatic Cancer—Health Professional Version.

Link to a Google AI search on Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

AI
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare tumors that develop from hormone-producing cells in the pancreas. They can be functional, producing excess hormones, or non-functional, with symptoms primarily due to tumor growth and spread. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other targeted therapies. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Symptoms: [5]
  • Functional PNETs: Symptoms depend on the specific hormone produced. For example, insulinomas can cause low blood sugar symptoms like fatigue, sweating, and blurred vision. Gastrinomas can lead to stomach ulcers and diarrhea. [2, 5, 6]
  • Non-functional PNETs: Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). [7, 8, 9]
Diagnosis: [10]
  • Blood tests: May reveal excess hormones or other signs of a PNET. [10]
  • Imaging scans: Can help locate the tumor and assess its size and spread. [11, 12, 13]
  • Biopsy: A tissue sample is examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis. [14, 15]
Treatment: [1, 11]
  • Surgery: Removal of the tumor is the primary treatment, especially for localized tumors. [1, 11]
  • Radiation therapy: Used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. [4, 16, 17]
  • Chemotherapy: May be used to treat advanced or metastatic PNETs. [4, 18, 19, 20]
  • Targeted therapies: Medications that target specific molecules involved in tumor growth and spread. [1, 21, 22]
  • Other treatments: According to the American Cancer Society, embolization or ablation may be used to reduce tumor growth or block blood supply. [23, 24, 25, 26]
Prognosis: [3]
  • Functional PNETs: Generally have a better prognosis than non-functional PNETs. [3]
  • Non-functional PNETs: Can be more aggressive and have a lower survival rate. [3, 7, 14]
  • Overall, the 5-year relative survival rate for PNETs is 53%, but can be higher for localized tumors (95%): according to the American Cancer Society. [18, 27, 28, 29]
Generative AI is experimental.
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