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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Isolation of Human Islets from Partially Pancreatectomized Patients
Published on: July 30, 2011
Pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Background & Aims:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains a computerized file of all hospital discharges since 1970. In taking advantage of this large database, the present study aimed to determine whether pancreatitis is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
Methods:
A case control study compared the occurrence of pancreatitis in 2639 patients with pancreatic cancer and a matched control group of 7774 subjects using multivariate conditional logistic regression.
Results:
The odds ratio associated with pancreatitis increased from 2.04 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-2.72) 7 or more years before the first diagnosis of cancer to 2.14 (CI, 1.68-2.72) 3 or more years before cancer diagnosis and to 2.31 (CI, 1.87-2.86) 1 or more years before cancer diagnosis. In a multivariate analysis, all types of pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis alone were associated with a significant risk, their odds ratios being 3.42 (CI, 1.98-5.91) and 2.23 (CI, 1.43-3.49), respectively. No influence was exerted by other variables, such as history of gallstone disease or alcoholism, frequency of hospital discharges with pancreatitis, and length of coverage in the VA system.
Conclusions:
A history of pancreatitis constitutes a significant risk for subsequent development of pancreatic cancer. The increase of the risk with decreasing time before the diagnosis of cancer may indicate that a fraction of pancreatic cancers are initially misdiagnosed as pancreatitis.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute pancreatitis is characterized by rapid inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by factors like gallstone blockage or excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is a slow, progressive inflammation that may result from long-term alcohol abuse, obstructions in the pancreatic duct, or genetic factors.
The causes of acute pancreatitis include:
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Acute Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Acute Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology

