Prevalence of pancreatic cancer in diabetics and clinical characteristics of diabetes associated with pancreatic cancer

초록

Background & Aims In Korea, the prevalence of PC in general population has been reported as seven in 100 000. However, that in DM has not been elucidated yet. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of PC among DM patients, to characterize the patients with PC with and without DM, and to compare the clinical characteristics of DM patients with and without PC at a single center of Korea. Methods A total of 5082 patients (4890 DM without PC, 78 PC with DM, and 114 PC without DM) were enrolled from Korea University Guro Hospital during a period of 4 years between January 2004 and January 2008. Results The prevalence of PC in DM patients was 1.6% and that of DM in PC patients was 40.6%. No significant differences in the clinical characteristics except HbAIc and ALP were observed between PC patients with DM and without DM. Among 78 PC patients with DM, DM was diagnosed in 19 (29.4%) and 29 (37.1%) patients concomitantly or within 2 years prior to the diagnosis of PC, respectively. Among the cases with recent onset DM (less than 2-year duration), the disease duration of DM before the diagnosis of PC was less than 1 year was 14 patients (17.9%), and 1–2 years in 15 patients (19.2%). DM patients with PC were found to have significantly higher ALT, total bilirubin, and ALP levels than in DM patients without PC. Conclusions The prevalence of PC in DM patients was 1.6% and was higher than in the general population. DM in PC patients was frequently of recent onset (less than 2 years’ duration). We considered that close follow-up for at least 2 years of the possible subsequent incidence of pancreatic cancer in new-onset diabetes should be needed.