[Pancreatic cancer: Epidemiological, clinical, and management aspects in the department of hepatogastroenterology at the Lome Campus teaching hospital (Togo)].

PURPOSES: To study the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory aspects of pancreatic pancreatic cancer in Togo, as well as its management.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: This retrospective, descriptive study includes patients diagnosed with such cancers over an 8-year period based on features observed on imaging (ultrasound and computed tomography).

RESULTS

During the study period, 30 patients, accounting for 0.68% of all admissions, were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Their average age was 55.6 years. The M/F sex ratio was 1.72. Weight loss was the most frequent clinical sign, found in 93%. Epigastric pain was reported by 60%. Laboratory results included cholestasis in 97%, hyperglycemia in 47%, hyperlipasemia in 17%, hyperamylasuria in 13%, and hyperamylasemia in 10%. Assays showed elevated Ca19-9 in 23% of patients and elevated ACE in 7%. Abdominal ultrasound showed a poorly defined heterogeneous mass that deformed the contours of the pancreas, with the tumor in the head of the pancreas in 96% of patients. Abdominal CT showed a pancreatic tumor of variable size with hepatic metastases and dilatation of the pancreatic duct in 11 cases. Management involved mainly administration of step 2 or 3 analgesics. The average duration of hospitalization was 12.4 days and death occurred before discharge in 87% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of pancreatic cancer seems to be rising in Togo. Its prognosis is very poor. Early detection is essential to reduce mortality.