Korean J Gastroenterol.  2009 Sep;54(3):167-173. 10.4166/kjg.2009.54.3.167.

Prevalence of Pancreatic Cancer in Diabetics and Clinical Characteristics of Diabetes-associated with Pancreatic Cancer: Comparison between Diabetes with and without Pancreatic Cancer

• Hong SG
• Kim JS
• Jung SJ
• Joo MK
• Lee BJ
• Yeon JE
• Park JJ
• Byun KS
• Bak YT

• KMID: 1775953
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2009.54.3.167

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
In Korea, the prevalence of pancreatic cancer (PC) in general population has been reported as 7 in 100,000. However, that in diabetes mellitus (DM) has not been elucidated yet. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of PC among DM patients, and characterize and compare the patients with DM with and without PC. METHODS: 5,082 patients (4,890 DM without PC, 78 PC with DM, and 114 PC without DM) were enrolled from Korea University Guro Hospital during a period of 4 years between January 2004 and January 2008. RESULTS: The prevalence of PC in DM patients was 1.6% and that of DM in PC patients was 40.6%. No significant differences in the clinical characteristics except HbAIc and ALP were observed between PC patients with DM and without DM. Among 78 PC patients with DM, DM was diagnosed in 19 (29.4%) and 29 (37.1%) patients concomitantly or within 2 years prior to the diagnosis of PC, respectively. Among the cases with recent onset DM (less than 2 years' duration), the disease duration of DM before the diagnosis of PC was less than 1 year in 14 patients (17.9%) and 1 to 2 years in 15 patients (19.2%). DM patients with PC were found to have significantly higher ALT, total bilirubin, and ALP levels than in DM patients without PC. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PC in DM patients was 1.6% and was higher than in the general population. Recent onset DM was frequent in PC patients (less than 2 years' duration). We recommend close follow-up for at least 2 years in new-onset diabetes.

Keyword

Pancreatic cancer; Diabetes mellitus; Prevalence; Disease duration

MeSH Terms

Aged
Alanine Transaminase/blood
Alkaline Phosphatase/blood
Bilirubin/blood
Diabetes Complications/diagnosis/*epidemiology
Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis/*epidemiology
Female
Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/analysis
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/*epidemiology
Prevalence
Time Factors

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