Abstract
The type, incidence, and severity of malabsorption in patients with pancreatic cancer were investigated. The following absorption tests were performed; pancreatic function diagnostant (PFD) test, measurement of serum carotene levels, and 5 gd-xylose absorption test. Rates of abnormality in the tests were 75.7% of 37, 54.2% of 48, and 54% of 50 patients with pancreatic cancer, respectively. In particular, a marked decrease of values in the xylose absorption test was characteristic and more often recognized in patients with carcinoma of the pancreas with occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein. The presence of malabsorption (disturbed transport through the portal vein), in addition to maldigestion of nutrients, is suggested to induce severe malnutrition in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Holroyde CP, Reichard GA. General metabolic abnormalities in cancer patients-anorexia and cachexia. Surg Clin North Am 1986;66:947–956.
Japan Pancreas Society. General rules for the study of pancreatic cancer 4th ed. (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kanehara Publishing, 1993.
Zerbi A, Balzano G, Bottura R, et al. Reliability of pancreatic cancer staging classifications. Int J Pancreatol 1994;15:13–18.
Kimura T, Wakasugi H, Ibayashi H. Clinical study of exocrine pancreatic function test by oral administration of N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-P-aminobenzoic acid. Digestion 1981;21:133–139.
Wakasugi H, Nakayama K, Abe M, et al. Studies on intestinal malabsorption in chronic pancreatitis. Gastroenterol Jpn 1976;ll:374–379.
Hara Y, Wakasugi H, Takahashi I. Clinical evaluation ofd-xylose tolerance test (abstract in English). Fukuoka Acta Medica 1970;61:14–18.
Haeney MR, Culank LS, Montgomery RD, et al. Evaluation of xylose absorption as measured in blood and urine; a 1-h blood, xylose screening test in malabsorption. Gastroenterology 1978;75:393–400.
Perez MM, Newcomer AD, Moertel CG, et al. Assessment of weight loss, food intake, fat metabolism, malabsorption, and treatment of pancreatic insufficiency in pancreatic cancer. Cancer 1983;52:346–352.
Layer P, Holtmann G. Pancreatic enzymes in chronic pancreatitis. Int J Pancreatol 1994;15:1–11.
Watanabe K. Clinical evaluation of malabsorption test in post-surgical state using PFD test (in Japanese). Jpn J Clin Surg 1981;7:737–752.
Gyr KE, Singer MV, Sarles H (eds) Pancreatitis and classification. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, 1984; xxiv.
Daly JM, Gallagher H, Motyka L. Nutritional support in the cancer patient. Cancer Chemother 1992;19:588–595.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wakasugi, H., Hara, Y. & Abe, M. A study of malabsorption in pancreatic cancer. J Gastroenterol 31, 81–85 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01211191
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01211191