Glossary

Imaging method that is safe and fast; a form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to view the bile duct and pancreatic duct.

Imaging method that uses powerful magnets to view internal organs and structures; the energy from the magnets is absorbed by the body and released. A computer translates the energy patterns into detailed images of areas inside the body.

A test that measures chemicals in cells without removing tissue from the body.

A tube-shaped vessel that drains digestive fluids from the pancreas into the gut.

Treatment given to help sustain good treatment results.

Cancerous; malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

A physician who is trained to diagnose and treat cancer. A medical oncologist will also coordinate treatment with other specialists.

Serious form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin).

Cancer that has spread beyond the area of the affected organ or part of the body and involves other organs, such as the liver or lungs.

Tiny tumors near the main tumor that can only be seen with a microscope.

Cancer cells that have spread from the first tumor and cannot be seen by the naked eye.

A very small number of cancer cells left in the body after treatment that can’t be seen with a microscope.

Surgery using small tools inserted through small incisions.

One of the approved chemotherapy drugs for pancreatic cancer, it works by sticking the cancer cell’s DNA (the cell’s genetic code) together so that it can't come apart again. The cell can't divide so the cancer cannot grow.

Tests done during treatment to check if treatment is working.

A type of immune system protein made in a lab that can attach to substances in the body such as cancer cells.

The use of two or more cancer drugs in one treatment, to get a stronger effect against the disease.

Helical CT scanner with multiple detector rows; advantages over other CT scanners include improved image resolution and rapid scanning of large volumes.

Team approach to the care of patients with cancer in which physicians in many different areas of specialization join to provide their expertise and experience.

A rare, inherited disorder that affects the endocrine glands and can cause tumors in the pancreas and other organs, which usually are not cancerous.

Errors in the DNA code that occur in the process of cell replication and division; certain mutations may lead to cancer or other diseases. (See also Inherited mutations.)