The pancreas, an organ in the abdomen behind the stomach, produces both digestive enzymes and insulin. Pancreatic cancer, in spite of arising as a thirteenth cancer worldwide, is the fourth most common cause of death due to cancer. The occurrence and mortality rates of PC have been increasing year by year worldwide, says the best pancreatic cancer doctor in Kolkata. Most pancreatic tumors are exocrine tumors, including acinar cell carcinoma, ductal adenocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, hepatoid carcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, colloid carcinoma, pancreatoblastoma, and pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasm. However, the most common form is the ductal adenocarcinoma that involves moderately to poorly differentiated glandular structures.

The possible risk factors for PC include gender, age, smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, physical activities, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, vitamin D, genetic alterations, dietary, and reproductive factors.

Early and accurate diagnosis of PC, which often can be challenging, is important because it helps doctors choose the effective and timely treatment option for patients. It is usually based on a combination of imaging techniques such as computer tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), tumor markers such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), clinical presentations, and the “gold standard” diagnosis-biopsy.