Case #01 Discussion:

Pancreatic cancer is typically exocrine and occurs 80% of the time in the head of the gland. As the tumor grows, it constricts both the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct. At the time of diagnosis, 90% of patients have had some weight loss, and 90% have metastases beyond the gland. Overall 5-year survival for this type of cancer is <2%. In cases where tumor is localized to the head of the pancreas and the SMA, SMV, and duodenum are not involved, patients can be treated with a Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) and adjuvant fluorouracil and radiation.

The gallstone was an incidental finding.