A 52-year-old man presents with abdominal pain and weight loss

A 52-year-old man presents with abdominal pain and weight loss. He describes a dull “gnawing” pain located in the epigastric region radiating to the back. The abdominal examination is normal with no hepatosplenomegaly or masses palpated. A computerized tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen reveals a 3-cm mass in the pancreas. Which of the following statements regarding cancer of the pancreas is true?

(A) tumors of the pancreas are divided almost equally between those arising
from the exocrine portion and those arising from the endocrine portion
(B) most endocrine tumors of the pancreas are malignant
© the body of the pancreas is the most common site of malignancy
(D) adenocarcinoma is the most common pancreatic cancer
(E) extension is through local invasion; metastases are a late manifestation

solution:

(D) Adenocarcinoma is the most common cancer of the pancreas. The proximal pancreas is the most common site, with only 20% occurring in the body and 5–10% in the tail. About 95% of the tumors arise from the exocrine portion of the gland, and these are usually malignant. Most of the endocrine tumors are benign. Early development of metastases is characteristic of pancreatic adenocarcinoma