Title: Pancreatic cancer in mid- region of Libya. Retrospective study from July 2005 to Jan 2015

Authors: Ramadan Elamyal, Naji Zubia

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i12.19

Abstract

Introduction: the pancreas is a glandular organ of dual composition with both exocrine and endocrine components. Tumors of exocrine pancreases are rare with more than 95% being malignant.

Methods & Materials: this is a retrospective clinico-histopathological study of 89 cases registered in our center from July 2005 to Jan 2015. The details of patients were retrieved from patients’ files.  Information retrieved included socio-demographic data, clinical presentation, anatomical site, gross appearance, tumor stage, histopathological type and grade, presence of metastasis.

Results:during the study period, a total of 89 malignancies were registered. Of these, 48 (53.9%) were histopathologically confirmed pancreatic cancer. The diagnosis in the remaining 41 patients was based on clinical and radiological basis.Male to female ratio of 1.6:1. The age ranged from 35 to 90 years with a median age of 63 years. Fifty seven patients (64%) presented with abdominal pain, 41 patients (46%) were jaundiced. Thehead was the most frequent site for pancreatic tumor in 48 (54%) cases followed by tail, body. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histopathological tumor in 43(90%) patients. Thirty(33.7%) patients were presented in locally advanced stages and 54(60.6 %) patients had metastasis.

Conclusion: Our study was limited by being a retrospective, a relatively small number of patients and representing the experience of a single cancer center so, larger scale prospective studies are recommended to study the clinicodemografic character of this disease in the country.

Keywords: Pancreatic Cancer, clinical, demographic, retrospective.

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Corresponding Author

Ramadan Elamyal

Department of Surgery, Misurata Cancer Center, Misurata, Libya

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