A disease of later life, pancreatic carcinoma is the third most common cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and the sixth most common cause of cancer deaths.

70% of tumours occur in the head of the pancreas in proportion to the amount of tissue in different parts of the pancreas.

Progress is insidious. There is early regional lymph node involvement and spread to the liver. The tumour may metastasize to bone and lung.

Less common endocrine tumours of the pancreas such as glucagonomas and insulinomas may occur.