TL;DR: The liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas have a common embryologic origin and cancers that arise from these sites are expected to share a similar spectrum of histologic types.
Abstract: Background. The liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas have a common embryologic origin; cancers that arise from these sites therefore are expected to share a similar spectrum of histologic types. These cancers are known for their extremely poor prognoses.
Methods. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program regarding the incidence, distribution of histologic types, stage of disease, and survival for cancers of the gallbladder (n = 4412), extrahepatic bile ducts (n = 3486), pancreas (n = 23, 116), and liver (n = 6,391) were reviewed. The most common histologic types are discussed, and the frequency of rare types is reported.
Results. The incidence of biliary cancer decreased, while the incidence of hepatic and pancreatic cancer rose slightly over the 15-year period from 1973 to 1987. Age and sex distributions varied by histologic type. Greater than 98% of pancreatic and biliary cancers were carcinomas, and adenocarcinoma (not otherwise specified) was the most common histologic type recorded. In the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma was the most common type, followed by intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The overall 5-year relative survival rates for these cancers were very low: gallbladder, 12.3%; extrahepatic bile duct, 12.7%; liver 3.1%; and pancreas 2.5% (all stages combined, 1978-1986).
Conclusions. This review confirmed that these carcinomas are associated with a very poor outcome; however, survival was influenced by stage of disease and histologic type. In the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts, papillary adenocarcinoma was associated with the best outcome of all histologic types, and in the exocrine pancreas, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma was associated with the best prognosis.
TL;DR: Significant associations were observed between family history of selected neoplasms in first-degree relatives and the risk of pancreatic, liver, and gallbladder cancer, which would support the existence of a genetic component in the familial aggregation of liver and pancreatic cancer.
Abstract: The relationship between family history of selected neoplasms in first-degree relatives and the risk of pancreatic, liver, and gallbladder cancer was investigated using data from a case-control study conducted in northern Italy on 320 histologically confirmed incident cases of liver cancer, 58 of gallbladder cancer, 362 of pancreatic cancer, and 1408 controls admitted to the hospital for acute, nonneoplastic, nondigestive tract disorders. Significant associations were observed between family history of hepatocellular carcinoma and primary liver cancer [relative risk (RR) = 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3 to 4.4], between family history of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer (RR = 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4 to 6.6), and between family history of gallbladder cancer and gallbladder cancer (RR = 13.9; 95% CI, 1.2 to 163.9). The elevated risk of liver cancer associated with family history was not materially modified by adjustment for tobacco, alcohol, and personal history of cirrhosis and hepatitis (RR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5 to 5.3). Similarly, the risk for pancreatic cancer did not appreciably change after allowance for tobacco, alcohol, dietary factors, and medical history of diabetes and pancreatitis (RR = 2.8; 95% CI, 1.3 to 6.3). This pattern of risk would support the existence of a genetic component in the familial aggregation of liver and pancreatic cancer. In terms of population attributable risk, approximately 3% of the newly diagnosed liver and pancreatic cancers would be related to this familial component.
TL;DR: Investigations demonstrated that the pattern of mucin gene expression in fetal duodenum reiterated the patterns observed during gastric and intestinal ontogenesis, and suggested a possible regulatory role for mucin genes products in gastroduodenal epithelial cell differentiation.
Abstract: Studies were undertaken to provide information regarding cell-specific expression of mucin genes and their relation to developmental and neoplastic patterns of epithelial cytodifferentiation. In situ hybridization was used to study mRNA expression of mucin genes in duodenum and accessory digestive glands (liver, gallbladder, pancreas) of 13 human embryos and fetuses (6. 5-27 weeks' gestation), comparing these with normal and neoplastic adult tissues. These investigations demonstrated that the pattern of mucin gene expression in fetal duodenum reiterated the patterns we observed during gastric and intestinal ontogenesis, with MUC2 and MUC3 expression in the surface epithelium and MUC6 expression associated with the development of Brunner's glands. In embryonic liver, MUC3 was already expressed at 6.5 weeks of gestation in hepatoblasts. As in adults, MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6 were expressed in fetal gallbladder, whereas MUC4 was not. In contrast, MUC4 was strongly expressed in gallbladder adenocarcinomas. MUC5B and MUC6 were expressed in fetal pancreas, from 12 weeks and 26 weeks of gestation, respectively. Surprisingly, MUC3 which is strongly expressed in adult pancreas, was not detected in developmental pancreas. Taken together, these data show complex spatio-temporal regulation of the mucin genes and suggest a possible regulatory role for mucin gene products in gastroduodenal epithelial cell differentiation.
TL;DR: Percutaneous ultrasound guided biopsy markedly improves the success and safety of obtaining a definitive diagnosis when either diffuse or focal lesions are present.
Abstract: Focal hepatic and splenic lesions, vascular abnormalities, and disorders of the biliary system can readily be detected with ultrasonography. The sonographic diagnosis can be substantially narrowed when the presenting clinical signs are considered. Ultrasonography is less helpful when the liver or spleen is diffusely involved without parenchymal, abnormalities. However, certain diseases may also be eliminated from diagnostic consideration on the basis of this finding. Percutaneous ultrasound guided biopsy markedly improves the success and safety of obtaining a definitive diagnosis when either diffuse or focal lesions are present. Sonography has also been very beneficial for serially evaluating the response to therapy once focal lesions of the liver or spleen have been identified.