Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
ENLARGED PANCREAS now normal size?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
ENLARGED PANCREAS now normal size?
by seven7, Mar 23, 2005 12:00AM
Dear Doctor.
April 2002 I had a mastectomy. It was determined to be stage 3
I then had 8 chemotherapies, radiation and am taking Tamoxifen.
Right after my mastectomy surgery I had a CAT scan , chest xray and bone scan. All were okay. When later tested again,(I think it was a year later, after all my chemo and radiation treatments were finished) the CAT scan showed an enlarged pancreas. Since,I have had 5 CAT scans, (with the iodine in the veins)
The first 4 showed an unchanged pancreas, still large. Then the last CAT scan, (last October) showed to be normal size.
What to you make of this? Do you think the chemotherapy (4 Adromyacin & 4 Taxotere) could have made the pancreas grow, and now it has gone down?
My Oncologist told me last Oct. that he was going to just order a mammogram and a chest xray for me this April.
I am worried and would like to have ONE more CAT scan just to be sure it is okay. It seems that if the first 4 all agreed, that the last one after that could have been read wrong. I guess I am thinking that the majority should be nearer to being right.
Do you think I am just being overly causious? I hate to bring this up to my Oncologist, thinking he will think I am a little weird! Still, I wonder.
Please give me your opinion. Thank You, Seven7
April 2002 I had a mastectomy. It was determined to be stage 3
I then had 8 chemotherapies, radiation and am taking Tamoxifen.
Right after my mastectomy surgery I had a CAT scan , chest xray and bone scan. All were okay. When later tested again,(I think it was a year later, after all my chemo and radiation treatments were finished) the CAT scan showed an enlarged pancreas. Since,I have had 5 CAT scans, (with the iodine in the veins)
The first 4 showed an unchanged pancreas, still large. Then the last CAT scan, (last October) showed to be normal size.
What to you make of this? Do you think the chemotherapy (4 Adromyacin & 4 Taxotere) could have made the pancreas grow, and now it has gone down?
My Oncologist told me last Oct. that he was going to just order a mammogram and a chest xray for me this April.
I am worried and would like to have ONE more CAT scan just to be sure it is okay. It seems that if the first 4 all agreed, that the last one after that could have been read wrong. I guess I am thinking that the majority should be nearer to being right.
Do you think I am just being overly causious? I hate to bring this up to my Oncologist, thinking he will think I am a little weird! Still, I wonder.
Please give me your opinion. Thank You, Seven7
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Mar 24, 2005 12:00AM
, Mar 24, 2005 12:00AM
It may be possible that the chemotherapy medications that you are using may lead to pancreatitis, which could lead to an enlarged pancreas. I looked up both of the mentioned agents, and they do not commonly lead to pancreatitis, but this doesn't mean it can't happen.
If the pancreas continues to be enlarged, other possibilites would include a cyst or pseodocyst - which should be seen on a CT scan. Blockage of the pancreatic duct can also lead to enlargement. This can be evaluated with an ERCP or MRCP.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a GI evaluation.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
If the pancreas continues to be enlarged, other possibilites would include a cyst or pseodocyst - which should be seen on a CT scan. Blockage of the pancreatic duct can also lead to enlargement. This can be evaluated with an ERCP or MRCP.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a GI evaluation.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
