nih-gov/medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000236.htm
2025-02-26 13:17:41 -05:00

298 lines
No EOL
33 KiB
HTML
Raw Permalink Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" id="article" class="nojs us" data-root="//medlineplus.gov" itemid="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000236.htm" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalWebPage" itemscope="">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/>
<meta http-equiv="window-target" content="_top"/>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/>
<meta charset="utf-8"/>
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="1042245625821448"/>
<meta name="expires" content="Wed, 05 02 2025"/>
<meta name="ac-dictionary" content="medlineplus-ac-dictionary"/>
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/>
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="//medlineplus.gov/images/touch-icon.png"/>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/common_new.css?04272023"/>
<!--[if IE 8]> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ie8/common.css"><![endif]-->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/css/uswds_styles.css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ency/ency2.css?07162024"/>
<script type="text/javascript">document.querySelector("html").className = document.querySelector("html").className.replace(/nojs[\s]*/g, '');</script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds-init.min.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&amp;l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MMVM77');</script>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000236.htm" itemprop="url"/>
<link rel="alternative" hreflang="es" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000236.htm"/>
<link rel="alternative" hreflang="en" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000236.htm"/><meta property="og:title" content="Pancreatic cancer: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000236.htm"/><meta property="twitter:title" content="Pancreatic cancer: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="description" content="Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas."/><meta itemprop="description" name="description" content="Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas."/><meta property="og:description" content="Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas."/><meta property="twitter:description" content="Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas."/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_2.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_3.jpg"/><meta property="twitter:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/>
<title>Pancreatic cancer: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia</title>
</head>
<body><link href="http://schema.org/Patient" itemprop="audience"/>
<!-- Google Tag Manager -->
<noscript><iframe title="googletagmanager" src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MMVM77" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">
</iframe>
</noscript>
<!-- End Google Tag Manager -->
<a name="top" id="top">
</a>
<a class="hide-offscreen" href="#start">Skip navigation</a>
<section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official website of the United States government">
<div class="usa-accordion">
<header class="usa-banner__header">
<div class="usa-banner__inner">
<div class="grid-col-auto">
<img aria-hidden="true" class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/us_flag_small.png" alt=""/>
</div>
<div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto" aria-hidden="true">
<p class="usa-banner__header-text">
An official website of the United States government
</p>
<p class="usa-banner__header-action">Heres how you know</p>
</div>
<button type="button" class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default-default">
<span class="usa-banner__button-text">Heres how you know</span>
</button>
</div>
</header>
<div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default-default">
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg">
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/>
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
<p>
<strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br/>A
<strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/>
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
<p>
<strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br/>A
<strong>lock</strong> (
<span class="icon-lock"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default" focusable="false">
<title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title>
<desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc>
<path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z">
</path>
</svg> </span>) or <strong>https://</strong> means youve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<div id="mplus-wrap">
<header>
<div id="mplus-header">
<!-- Orgs
================================================== -->
<div id="mplus-orgs">
<a title="National Institutes of Health" target="_blank" class="nih-org" href="//www.nih.gov/">
<img alt="National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nihlogo.png" class="nihlogo"/>
</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/"> National Library of Medicine </a>
</div>
<!-- Logo
================================================== -->
<div id="mplus-logo" class="years-25">
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov">
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_25.png" title="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" alt="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You"/>
</a>
</div>
<!-- Nav Menu
================================================== -->
<div id="mplus-nav">
<div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">The navigation menu has been collapsed.</div>
<!-- Menu Button-->
<button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-menu-list" role="button" title="Menu" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-menu-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0">Menu<span class="icon icon-nav-menu">
</span></button><ul class="nav-list" id="mplus-menu-list">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs &amp; Supplements</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
</ul><button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-search" role="button" title="Search" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-search-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0"><span class="hide-offscreen">Show </span>Search<span class="icon icon-nav-search">
</span></button>
<div class="top-1">
<!-- Search
================================================== -->
<form target="_self" title="Search MedlinePlus" action="//vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta" method="get" id="mplus-search">
<input type="hidden" value="medlineplus" name="v:project"/>
<input type="hidden" value="medlineplus-bundle" name="v:sources"/>
<div class="form-box text-combo">
<div class="form-area"><label for="searchtext_primary" class="hide-offscreen">Search MedlinePlus</label>
<span role="status" aria-live="polite" class="ui-helper-hidden-accessible">
</span><input type="text" aria-haspopup="true" aria-autocomplete="list" role="textbox" autocomplete="off" name="query" size="40" maxlength="400" title="Site Search input" alt="Site Search input" placeholder="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-text ui-autocomplete-input" id="searchtext_primary"/>
</div>
<div class="button-area">
<button type="submit" alt="Search MedlinePlus" title="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-btn">GO</button>
</div>
</div>
</form>
<!-- Secondary Nav
================================================== -->
<div class="secondarynav">
<ul class="nav-list">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/"><span>About MedlinePlus</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/"><span>What's New</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html"><span>Site Map</span></a></li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&amp;category=medlineplus&amp;from=//medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000236.htm"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Nav Bar
================================================== -->
<div id="mplus-nav-bar">
<ul class="nav-list">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs &amp; Supplements</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<a title="Español" id="mplus-lang-toggle" href="../../spanish/ency/article/000236.htm">Español</a>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<!-- Content
================================================== -->
<div id="mplus-content">
<!-- Breadrcumbs -->
<div id="breadcrumbs"><div itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList" itemscope="" itemprop="breadcrumb"><span class="hide-offscreen">You Are Here:</span>
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a>
&rarr;
<meta itemprop="position" content="1"/>
</div>
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Medical Encyclopedia</span></a>
&rarr;
<meta itemprop="position" content="2"/>
</div>
</div><div><span>Pancreatic cancer</span></div></div>
<span class="page-url print-only">URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000236.htm
</span>
<!-- Article -->
<article><div id="d-article"><div class="page-info"><div class="page-title"><a name="start" id="start">
</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Pancreatic cancer</h1>
</div><div class="page-actions">
</div>
<noscript>
<span class="js-disabled-message">To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript.</span>
</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>The pancreas is a large organ behind the stomach. It makes and releases enzymes into the intestines that help the body digest and absorb food, especially fats. The pancreas also makes and releases insulin and glucagon. These are hormones that help the body control blood sugar levels.</p><p>There are different types of pancreatic cancers. The type depends on the cell in which the cancer develops. Examples include:</p><ul><li>Adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer</li><li>Other more rare types include <a test="test" href="./000326.htm">glucagonoma</a>, <a test="test" href="./000387.htm">insulinoma</a>, <a test="test" href="./000393.htm">islet cell tumor</a>, <a test="test" href="./000228.htm">VIPoma</a></li></ul><p>The exact cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown. It is more common in people who:</p><ul><li>Are obese</li><li>Have a diet high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables</li><li>Have diabetes</li><li>Have long-term exposure to certain chemicals</li><li>Have long-term inflammation of the pancreas (<a test="test" href="./000221.htm">chronic pancreatitis</a>)</li><li>Smoke</li></ul><p>The risk for pancreatic cancer increases with age. Family history of the disease also slightly increases the chance of developing this cancer.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>A tumor (cancer) in the pancreas may grow without any symptoms at first. This means the cancer is often advanced when it is first found.</p><p>Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:</p><ul><li>Diarrhea</li><li>Dark urine and clay-colored stools</li><li><a test="test" href="./003088.htm">Fatigue</a> and weakness</li><li>Sudden increase in blood sugar level (diabetes)</li><li><a test="test" href="./000210.htm">Jaundice</a> (a yellow color in the skin, mucous membranes, or white part of the eyes) and itching of the skin</li><li>Loss of appetite and weight loss</li><li>Nausea and vomiting</li><li>Pain or discomfort in the upper part of the belly or abdomen </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms.</p><p>Blood tests that may be ordered include:</p><ul><li>Complete blood count (<a test="test" href="./003642.htm">CBC</a>)</li><li><a test="test" href="./003436.htm">Liver function tests</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003479.htm">Serum bilirubin</a></li></ul><p>Imaging tests that may be ordered include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003789.htm">CT scan of the abdomen</a></li><li>Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (<a test="test" href="./007479.htm">ERCP</a>)</li><li><a test="test" href="./007646.htm">Endoscopic ultrasound</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003796.htm">MRI of the abdomen</a></li></ul><p>Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (and what type) is made by a <a test="test" href="./003894.htm">pancreatic biopsy</a>.</p><p>If tests confirm you have pancreatic cancer, more tests will be done to see how far the cancer has spread within and outside the pancreas. This is called staging. Staging helps guide treatment and gives you an idea of what to expect.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>Treatment for adenocarcinoma depends on the stage of the tumor.</p><p><a test="test" href="./007649.htm">Surgery</a> may be done if the tumor has not spread or has spread very little. Along with surgery, <a test="test" href="./002324.htm">chemotherapy</a> or <a test="test" href="./001918.htm">radiation therapy</a> or both may be used before or after surgery. A small number of people can be cured with this treatment approach.</p><p>When the tumor has not spread out of the pancreas but cannot be surgically removed, chemotherapy and radiation therapy together may be recommended.</p><p>When the tumor has spread (metastasized) to other organs such as the liver, chemotherapy alone is usually used.</p><p>With advanced cancer, the goal of treatment is to manage pain and other symptoms. For example, if the tube that carries bile (bile duct) is blocked by the pancreatic tumor, a procedure to place a tiny metal tube (stent) may be done to open the blockage. This can help relieve jaundice and itching of the skin.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Support Groups</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>You can ease the stress of illness by joining a <a test="test" href="./002166.htm">cancer support group</a>. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Some people with pancreatic cancer that can be surgically removed are cured. But in most people, the tumor has spread and cannot be completely removed at the time of diagnosis.</p><p>Chemotherapy and radiation are often given after surgery to increase the cure rate (this is called adjuvant therapy). For pancreatic cancer that cannot be removed completely with surgery or cancer that has spread beyond the pancreas, a cure is not possible. In this case, chemotherapy is given to improve and extend the person's life.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Contact your provider for an appointment if you have:</p><ul><li><div>Abdominal or back pain that does not go away</div></li><li><div>Persistent loss of appetite</div></li><li><div>Unexplained fatigue or weight loss</div></li><li>Other symptoms of this disorder</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Prevention</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>Preventive measures include:</p><ul><li>If you smoke, now is the time to quit.</li><li>Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.</li><li>Exercise regularly to stay at a healthy weight.</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Pancreatic cancer; Cancer - pancreas</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div name="Images" class="section-body" id="section-tnails"><ul class="img-grid group">
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1090t.jpg" alt="Digestive system" title="Digestive system" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1090.htm">Digestive system</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1093t.jpg" alt="Endocrine glands" title="Endocrine glands" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1093.htm">Endocrine glands</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1192t.jpg" alt="Pancreatic cancer, CT scan" title="Pancreatic cancer, CT scan" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1192.htm">Pancreatic cancer, CT scan</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/8883t.jpg" alt="Pancreas" title="Pancreas" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/8883.htm">Pancreas</a></li>
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/19214t.jpg" alt="Biliary obstruction - series - Normal anatomy" title="Biliary obstruction - series - Normal anatomy" class="side-img"/><a href="../presentations/100199_1.htm">Biliary obstruction - series</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>De Jesus-Acosta A, Narang A, Mauro L, Herman J, Jaffee EM, Laheru DA. Carcinoma of the pancreas. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. <em>Abeloff's Clinical Oncology</em>. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 78.</p><p>Modi B, Shires GT. Pancreatic cancer, cystic pancreatic neoplasms, and other nonendocrine pancreatic tumors. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. <em>Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease</em>. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 60.</p><p>National Cancer Institute website. Pancreatic cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic/hp/pancreatic-treatment-pdq" target="_blank">www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic/hp/pancreatic-treatment-pdq</a>. Updated February 16, 2023. Accessed September 8, 2023.</p><p>National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Version 2.2023. <a href="https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/pancreatic.pdf" target="_blank">www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/pancreatic.pdf</a>. Updated June 19, 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 8/28/2023</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div>
<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists &amp; Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
</div></div></section><section><div class="section ency-citation"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title ency-citation"><div id="citation-how-to"><button><span>Learn how to cite this page</span></button></div></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Related MedlinePlus Health Topics</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-mtp" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
</div></div><div name="Related MedlinePlus Health Topics" class="section-body" id="section-mtp"><ul class="side-nav"><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/pancreaticcancer.html">Pancreatic Cancer</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section></div></div></article>
</div>
<footer>
<div class="provider-box group">
<div class="urac-logo">
<a href="https://accreditnet.urac.org/directory/#/certification/HCP-2/info"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/CertifiedSeal.png"/></a>
<p class="urac-logo-info">Health Content Provider<br>06/01/2025</p>
</div>
<p class="adam-info">
<a href='javascript:urac_open();'>A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC</a>, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's <a href='javascript:hwsopen();'>accreditation program</a> is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s <a href='javascript:edpolopen();'>editorial policy, editorial process</a>, and <a href='javascript:ppopen();'>privacy policy</a>. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: <a href='javascript:honc_open();'>verify here</a>.
</p>
</div>
<p class="adam-info">
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997-2025 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
</p>
<div class="adam-logo">
<a href="https://www.adam.com/about" target="_blank"><img width="49" height="10" alt="About A.D.A.M." src="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/ftrAdamlogo.gif"/></a>
</div>
<div id="mplus-footer">
<div class="footer1">
<ul class="secondarynav">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li>
<li><a name="contact" target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&amp;category=medlineplus&amp;from="><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
</ul>
<ul class="follow-footer">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/rss.html" class="follow-item">Subscribe to RSS<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/feed.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="RSS" title="RSS"></a></li>
<li><span class="follow-label">Follow us</span>
<a href="https://twitter.com/medlineplus" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_twitter.png" class="follow-icon" alt="X" title="X"></a>
<a href="https://facebook.com/Mplus.gov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_fb.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook"></a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mplusgov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/Instagram_Glyph_Gradient_RGB.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Instagram" title="Instagram"></a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/social-media-toolkit/" class="social-media-toolkit-item">Social Media Toolkit<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_social_media_toolkit.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="Social Media Toolkit" title="Social Media Toolkit"></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="footer2">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/web_policies.html" target="_blank">NLM Web Policies</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/usingcontent/" >Copyright</a></li>
<li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/criteria/">Guidelines for Links</a></li>
<li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/plugins.html">Viewers &amp; Players</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" target="_blank">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/medlineplus-connect/">MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/developers/">For Developers</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="address">
<a href="//www.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Library of Medicine</a>
<span>8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894</span>
<a href="//www.hhs.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>
<a href="//www.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health</a>
</div>
<div class="return-top"><a href="#top" title="Return to top"><img class="return-top-icon" alt="Return to top" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/return-top.png"></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
</div><!-- End Wrap -->
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery-3.6.0.min.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-frontend-controls.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<!--[if lte IE 9]>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery.placeholder.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<![endif]-->
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-share.js?id=1112022" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/control.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds.min.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/ency/ency.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
</body>
</html>