This has leveled off in the past 2 decades. The neoplasm is more common in men than women by about 1.5 to 1 and in African Americans than in whites. About 80 percent of cases are diagnosed in the 60 to 80 year age group. Coffee has been indicted as a cause, but is probably not one. A mutated p53 suppressor gene has been found in 60 percent of cases and a mutant cKi ras gene in about 70 percent.
Pancreatic carcinoma arises in the head twice as often as in the body and tail.
Those in the head are detected earlier because of the appearance of obstructive jaundice. The neoplasms are firm to hard, grayish white masses grossly. Microscopically they vary from well differentiated to anaplastic adenocarcinoma. Most tumors secrete mucin. A dense fibrous stroma is common.