Background: Of all forms of gastrointestinal malignancy, adenocarcinoma
of the pancreas is associated with the worst survival. Management of
pancreatic cancer is associated with some challenges. This study is
aimed at determining the hospital incidence, sociodemographic
characteristics, managements and management’s outcome of
carcinoma of pancreas at our hospital. We also discuss the management
challenges encountered with these patients. Patients and Methods: We
review 96 pancreatic cancer patients seen at Awolowo University
Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile –Ife, Nigeria, from July 1989 to
July 2007. Results: There were ninety six patients diagnosed with
cancer of the pancreas but only 80 patients had histological proof of
pancreatic cancer. This account for 2.1% of all malignancies seen and
238/100000 total admissions during the study period. The median age is
55.0. There were 62 (64.6%) male and 34 (35.4%) female with male to
female ratio been 2:1. Duration of symptoms in the patients ranges from
4 weeks to 109 weeks. Only three (3.1%) patients have tumor located in
a particular anatomical sub site: two head of pancreas and one tail of
the pancreas. Other patients had extensive tumor involving the head and
body of the pancreas. Two patients had pancreaticoduodenectomy, one had
resection of the tumor at the tail of pancreas and 45 patients had
triple bypass. Patients with low serum albumin and serum sodium and
elevated transaminases at presentation, had poorer prognosis than other
patients. Conclusion: We found that pancreatic cancer is not uncommon
in our center with male preponderance. Most patients present with
advanced condition only amenable to palliative measures. There are
significant challenges in the area of diagnosis, screening,
treatment and research