Where is the pancreatic head?
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Where is the pancreatic head?
The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen (belly), behind where the stomach meets the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). The body of the pancreas is behind the stomach. The tail of the pancreas is on the left side of the abdomen next to the spleen.
What is behind head of pancreas?
Common bile duct – Descends behind the head of the pancreas before opening into the second part of the duodenum alongside the major pancreatic duct through the major duodenal papilla. Spleen– located posteriorly and laterally.
What does the head of the pancreas look like?
It is spongy, about six to ten inches long, and is shaped like a flat pear or a fish extended horizontally across the abdomen. The wide part, called the head of the pancreas, is positioned toward the center of the abdomen.
What causes an enlarged pancreatic head?
Heavy alcohol use is the most common cause. Other causes include heredity, cystic fibrosis, high levels of calcium or fats in the blood, certain medications, and some autoimmune conditions.
Can the head of the pancreas be removed?
A Whipple procedure — also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy — is a complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct. The Whipple procedure is used to treat tumors and other disorders of the pancreas, intestine and bile duct.
How big is the head of the pancreas?
The size of the normal pancreas was found to be up to 3.0 cm for the head, 2.5 cm for the neck and body, and 2.0 cm for the tail.
What happens when the head of the pancreas is removed?
Delayed emptying of the stomach, which may make it difficult to eat or to keep food down temporarily. Leakage from the pancreas or bile duct connection. Diabetes, temporary or permanent.
What is the life expectancy after pancreatic surgery?
For some pancreatic patients, however, a complex surgery known as the Whipple procedure may extend life and could be a potential cure. Those who undergo a successful Whipple procedure may have a five-year survival rate of up to 25%.
How serious is pancreatic surgery?
It carries a relatively high risk of complications that can be life threatening. When the operation is done in small hospitals or by doctors with less experience, as many as 15% of patients may die as a result of surgical complications.
What size pancreatic tumor is considered large?
Conclusions: A dramatic change in survival occurs as the size of pancreatic tumor increases from 20 mm or smaller to 30 mm or larger. To be effective, future strategies for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer should aim at diagnosing most pancreatic cancers before they are 20 mm in size.
