The Value of Routine Biochemical Tests in Discriminating Between Malignant and Benign Pancreatic Tumours

Abstract

The probability that routine hematological laboratory tests of liver and pancreatic function can discriminate between malignant and benign pancreatic tumours, incidentally detected during operation, was investigated. The records of 53 patients with a verified diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma and 19 patients with chronic pancreatitis were reviewed with regard to preoperative total bilirubin, direct reacting bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, glutamyltranspeptidase, aminotransferases, lactic dehydrogenase and amylase. Multivariate and discriminant analysis were performed to calculate the predictive value for cancer, using SYSTAT statistical package in a Macintosh II computer. Total and direct reacting bilirubin and glutamyltranspeptidase were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic carcinoma. However, only considerably increased levels of direct reating bilirubin were predictive of pancreatic carcinoma.

Liver function trends after biliary decompression in obstructive jaundice: a clinico-pathological-biochemical study

“…The significance of serum bilirubin value in discriminating between benign and malignant obstructive jaundice has also previously been proved in literature and support our findings. 1,10 Serum alkaline phosphatase: The serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were raised upto 10 times the normal in our patient population. They were not statistically different in these two groups and so they were of less discriminative value in benign and malignant conditions.…”