The difference between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer is mainly manifested in the causes of pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, physical examination, imaging manifestations, prognosis and other aspects.
1. Causes: Chronic pancreatitis is mainly caused by alcoholism, and other causes include biliary tract diseases, hyperlipidemia, hypercalcemia, autoimmune diseases, etc. While the causes of pancreatic cancer are still unclear, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes and other adverse factors may increase the risk of the disease.
2. Clinical symptoms: chronic pancreatitis is characterized by severe and recurrent episodes of epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, fever, etc. Pancreatic cancer is insidious in its onset, with no special manifestations in the early stage, and in the late stage, it manifests itself in the form of abdominal pain, dyspepsia, jaundice, emaciation and so on, with a short course of the disease and rapid development.
3. Physical examination: patients with chronic pancreatitis have light abdominal pain; pancreatic cancer has no abnormality in the early stage; with the progress of the disease, there may be signs such as yellowing of skin and sclera, epigastric pain, etc. Enlarged liver and gallbladder can be touched, and in the late stage, enlarged lymph nodes can be touched in the clavicle, and nodular, hard and inactive mass can be touched in the epigastric region.
4. Imaging manifestations: sonogram diagnosis, CT and other manifestations are different, and diagnosis can be made through imaging manifestations.
5. Different prognosis: pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive system with poor prognosis and short survival period. Chronic pancreatitis patients will repeatedly have serious inflammation that may cause permanent damage to the pancreas.
It is recommended to go to the hospital for a clear diagnosis after the relevant examination, do not judge on your own, so as not to delay the condition.