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Pancreatic Disorders Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Pancreatic Disorders | Last Active: Sep 2 7:16pm | Replies (116)Comment receiving replies
I had an ultrasound 2 wks ago, it showed dilation of main duct pancreas 5.9mm. Just went yesterday for MRI it showed local prominence of main pancreatic duct 5.6mm max @ level of pancreatic head/neck. Main pancreatic duct dialation has progressed since 4 yrs ago, no masses seen no surrounding inflammation to suggest pancreatitis. I did have lab test showed CEA 1.7, CA19-9 35, Amylase 93, Lipase 45. I'm wondering if anyone can help me out with this is it serious for pancreatic cancer, or please give me insights. Thank you
Replies to "I had an ultrasound 2 wks ago, it showed dilation of main duct pancreas 5.9mm. Just..."
@greeneyes67f, I don't know if it may be any part of what's occurring in your case, but i do know that for me, it was entirely possible to end up having pancreatitis WITHOUT showing any inflammation on CT's or MRI's, and without having any "abnormally out of range" Amylase, Lipase, or other blood tests, too!
I know, because i managed to have unknowingly had Pancreatitis so often that i basically "digested the back 2/3rds of the inside of my own pancreas.
I had a non-functioning PNET, which was caught when it swelled up & blocked my duct in October of 2004.
That was the one time i had a high Amylase (over 1,200) and Lipase (iirc, over 6,000)--but it was the ONLY time i ever tripped a high test.
We monitored my lump for nearly a decade, and i went in expecting a Whipple in May of 2014.
But after they cut me open & took off the tail of my pancreas, they discovered it was "all duct," because i'd had so many bouts without realizing (i couldn't tell most times, if it was pancreatitis or just stress!).
So my "Whipple" became a Distal, and they just scooped out the tumor (enucleation) & performed a Distal Pancreatectomy instead.
In the years since that distal, i've found some of the research papers talking about how Chronic Pancreatitis can occur without the "typical" pancreatitis pain.
But i haven't found any doctors yet who can tell me of that's why most of my attacks didn't hurt (or if the times i've had lots of abdominal pain that feels like pancreatitis after exposure to secondhand Marijuana smoking & vaping is truly pancreatitis or not.
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@greeneyes67f
Glad you have no masses but understand your concern.
I recently had an MRI MRCP as I’m in a high risk for pancreatic cancer monitoring program due to the BRCA2 mutation. It showed my main pancreatic duct is 2.5 cm dilated (they are very concerned). There is a fuzzy spot that looks like it might be a cluster of cysts. I’m scheduled for an EUS Friday 2/6. My CA19-9 is normal at 11. My MRCP 2 years ago was normal and an abdominal CT one year ago was normal. I’ve been in treatment for two unrelated cancers for the past 5 years, recurrent breast cancer and neuroendocrine lung cancer. Lots of cancer in my family but no pancreatic so far. We’ll see how this turns out. 🙏
I am also happy to see this non-cancer pancreatic group and hope I don’t have to move to the cancer group.