What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 18 Apr 2017

Question: They recently found a 1cm hypodense lesion on the tail of my pancreas. I am having MRCP and EUS next week. My blood CA19-9 was negative. Questions are:

1. How "diagnostic" are these procedures? Meaning could they tell between a psuedocyst and MCN or IPMN?

2. For distal pancreatecyomy what is mortality rate for a 36 year old woman with no other comorbid conditions?

3. Is a spleen preserving procedure (if possible) associated with more negative outcomes/complications?

4. Assuming there is no recurrence of neoplasm can people who undergo the distal pacreatectomy to remove premalignant neoplasm expect longevity if their life or does this procedure shorten the lifespan?

5. Is not having a spleen a big deal? Does my body have "back up" systems to fight infection? I have asthma (I guess that's a comorbid) so am a little scared as I get bronchitis easily.

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Hari Charan Perigela (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
MRCP can diagnose the lesions of PANCREAS.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
1.MRCP and EUS will diagnose most of the lesions of PANCREAS.But,the exact nature of the swelling is always confirmed by HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION( Fine needle aspiration cytology or Biopsy) only.
2.Mortality rate for Distal pancreatectomy depends on the indication for surgery,whether it ia done for Malignant or Benign lesions.
3.Spleen is the organ which helps to fight infection.Spleen sparing DISTAL PANCREATECTOMY is good.
4.Survival rate is good if there is no recurrence of Neoplasm.
5.We remove SPLEEN if it is shattered by trauma.Then,we give vaccination to prevent infections.If it is indicated,there is no problem in removing the Spleen for elective surgeries too.
You can undergo surgery even if you have asthma.
Hope i answered your query.If you have any questions,i will clarify further.
Wish you good health.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D