[Pancreatic cancer--clinicopathology and etiology]

An analysis of 287 (1.42%) exocrine pancreatic carcinomas of an 18 years post-mortem examination includes pathomorphological and histological findings of the tumors, causes of death, important concomitant diseases, and relevant clinical details. The tumor prefers the old age. We found a medium age of 68.2 years and a nearly balanced sex ratio, but some age dependent differences in this ratio. Localization, histological type, staging and dependent findings of the tumours do not differ essentially from wellknown statements. Among the causes of death there was in the first position the tumour itself (48.5%), followed by general tumour associated (39%) and local complications (11.5%). We found no foregoing diseases respectively endogenous risk factors of pancreatic cancer. This statement concerns particularly the chronic pancreatitis, diseases of the biliary tract or the gastroenteron, and diabetes mellitus. The role of a particular blood group was to exclude. Special findings are discussed. The results rather support the significance of exogenous risk factors, especially of nicotine and ethanol, which, in conjunction with other in relation to the exocrine pancreas weak carcinogenic agents and hyperplasiogenic factors may contribute to the increasing incidence of the exocrine pancreatic cancer.