Acinar Cell Tumors
Acinar cell tumors are a cancerous tumor that begins in the pancreas. This is a rare type of cancer, accounting for only about 1 percent of pancreatic tumors. Acinar cell tumors are so rare, that long term prognosis is unclear.
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Identification
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Normal acinar cells found in the pancreas are responsible for secreting enzymes. Acinar cell tumors are developed from normal acinar cells, and may secrete an additional amount of lipase into the body. Acinar cell tumors usually occur in elderly people.
Symptoms
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The most common symptoms associated with acinar cell tumors are back pain, abdominal pain and abdominal bloating. Other gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhea, may also be present as well as marked weight loss. People that have acinar cell tumors frequently have a palpable abdominal mass that may appear to be jaundiced.
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Risk Factors
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The biggest risk factor in pancreatic tumors is smoking. However, acinar cell tumors are rare, so the association between smoking and this type of tumor has not been established. The risk factor for developing an acinar cell tumor, does increase with age.
Diagnosis
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The diagnosis of an acinar cell tumor is made by taking a biopsy of the mass in the pancreas. Once the diagnosis has been made, patients may have a CT scan to determine the extent of the disease.
Treatment
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Those that have an acinar cell tumor, undergo surgery to remove the tumor if at all possible. This is the best course of treatment for those that have localized tumors. According to Know Cancer.com, chemotherapy is commonly recommended in the treatment of acinar cell tumors.
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References
- Photo Credit physicians desk image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
