Aetiology

The cause of pancreatic carcinoma is unknown.

The following risk factors are known to be associated with the development of pancreatic carcinoma:

• smoking
• alcohol
• increased BMI
• diabetes
• chronic pancreatitis
• family history of pancreatic cancer
• familial cancer syndromes
  • BRCA1, BRCA2
  • familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
  • Lynch syndrome
  • von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
• other medical conditions
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • periodontal disease
  • peptic ulcer disease (1)

Certain industries seem to impart a high risk to their workers; occupational exposure to coal gas and aluminium increase the risk.

Coffee consumption is no longer considered to be a risk factor.

Reference:

• (1) Bond-Smith G et al. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. BMJ. 2012;344:e2476