title: Pancreatic carcinoma-induced changes in gastric myoelectric activity and emptying.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Twenty patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic carcinoma without any endoscopic evidence of gastroduodenal obstruction were included in the study. The aim was to determine changes in gastric myoelectric activity and liquid/solid gastric emptying induced by pancreatic tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to TNM/UICC classification patients were divided into two groups A (T2) and B (T3) due to extent of tumor invasion (mainly to retroperitoneum space). In all patients electrogastrography, solid and liquid gastric emptying tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the majority of patients of groups A and B the most commonly reported complaints included upper abdominal pain (60% vs. 80%) and icterus (80% vs. 60%). Dyspeptic symptoms were observed in 40% patients of group A and 90% in group B. In group electrogastrography recordings showed dysrhythmia patterns, mostly bradygastria, in 50% of group A patients and in 80% of group B. Liquid/solid gastric emptying were delayed in 20/40% of group A patients and 50/80% of group B. Disorders of gastric myoelectric activity and emptying correlated with tumor stage and location across analyzed groups but not with histology and hyperbilirubinemia levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was observed that solid gastric emptying is affected earlier compared to liquid gastric emptying. Delayed gastric emptying may be attributed to gastric dysrhythmia and/or abdominal pain but not mechanical effects of tumor growth that occur during the course of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Czysta 18, 31-121 Kraków, Poland. mfthor@cyf-kr.edu.pl
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Thor
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Popiela
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobocki
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matyja
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huszno
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000368:Aged; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000502:physiology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies