Pancreatoblastoma

Also known as: PBL, pancreatic cancer, childhood pancreatic cancer

What is pancreatoblastoma?

Pancreatoblastoma is rare form of cancer that develops in the lining of the pancreas. As it grows, it can spread to other parts of the body. It primarily affects children and is the most common form of pancreatic cancer among children.

What causes pancreatoblastoma?

Like most forms of cancer, pancreatoblastoma develops due to changes in a cell’s DNA. What specifically causes these changes to occur isn’t clear. Children with certain genetic diseases, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, may be at a greater risk of developing pancreatoblastoma.

What are the symptoms of pancreatoblastoma?

Early on, pancreatoblastoma may not present any symptoms. As it grows, a firm mass may become noticeable in the upper abdomen. Abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice, vomiting or intestinal bleeding are other potential symptoms.

How can pancreatoblastoma affect children?

Pancreatoblastoma is most commonly diagnosed in children under the age of 10. It’s the most common form of pancreatic cancer among children.

What are pancreatoblastoma treatments?

Surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are all potential treatments for pancreatoblastoma. In many cases, some combination of these treatments is used to fully rid the body of cancer.

Reviewed by: Maggie Fader, MD

This page was last updated on: November 03, 2023 12:36 PM