Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastroenterology)

Benign tumors of the pancreas: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Benign tumors of the pancreas are extremely rare: according to a number of pathologists, they are detected in 0.001-0.003% of cases. These are lipomas, fibromas, myxomas, chondromas, adenomas, hemadenomas, lymphangiomas, neurinomas, schwannomas and some others.

Isolated amyloidosis of the pancreatic islets

Isolated pancreatic islet amyloidosis is one of the most common and well-studied forms of endocrine amyloidosis (APUD amyloidosis). It is detected in insulin-producing tumors and in more than 90% of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes only, and more often in elderly people.

Pancreatic stones and calcifications

Stones in the pancreas were first discovered in 1667 by Graaf. Subsequently, individual observations of pancreolithiasis began to accumulate, and according to autopsy data, its frequency fluctuates between 0.004 and 0.75% of cases.

Diagnosis of pancreatic cysts

Laboratory tests are of little use in diagnosing these cysts and, at best, reveal signs of chronic pancreatitis: disturbances in the external and internal secretory functions of the pancreas.

Symptoms of pancreatic cysts

Due to the variety of etiological factors for the development of the disease, as well as the size and number of cysts, their different localization (head, body, tail of the pancreas), their clinical symptoms are extremely diverse.

Pancreatic cysts

Usually, according to their origin and morphological features, four types of pancreatic cysts are distinguished. The first type is ontogenetic cysts, which are a developmental defect; such cysts are often multiple and often combined with polycystic disease of other organs (lungs, kidneys, liver, etc.), thus representing congenital polycystic disease. Cysts are usually lined inside with a single-row cubic epithelium, and their contents are serous and do not contain enzymes.

Infarction and apoplexy of the pancreas: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

In some cases, especially with pronounced widespread atherosclerotic vascular lesions in elderly and senile individuals, thromboses and infarctions of the pancreas sometimes occur. They can be caused by small thrombi and embolism from the left atrium in heart defects (stenosis of the left atrioventricular orifice), infective endocarditis, embolism from an atheromatous plaque, etc.

Pancreas in atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction

Damage to the pancreas in atherosclerosis is observed mainly in people over 60 years of age, less often and at a younger age - mainly in people suffering from alcoholism. In this case, sclerotic changes develop in the pancreas, its excretory and endocrine functions are disrupted.

Circulatory disorders of the pancreas

Disturbances of venous outflow are observed in congestive heart failure, portal hypertension, and pulmonary heart syndrome in chronic lung diseases.

Pancreatic syphilis

Syphilis of the pancreas can be congenital and acquired. It is believed that specific damage to the pancreas is found in almost 10-20% of children suffering from congenital syphilis; the head of the pancreas is most often affected. Syphilitic changes in the pancreas are detected in the fetus already in the second half of pregnancy.