What Are The Symptoms Of Ampullary Cancer?

Pruritus And Jaundice

Pruritus and jaundice are common manifestations in individuals who have ampullary cancer. Jaundice is a condition that causes the skin and the white parts of the eyes to acquire a yellow tint. Jaundice occurs in ampullary cancer patients because their tumor grows and blocks their bile duct. A yellow colored substance the liver metabolizes or bile moves through the bile duct, and then into the small intestine where it is further broken down. After that, the leftovers of the broken down bile are excreted through the urine. When a tumor obstructs the flow of bilirubin into the small intestine, it will begin to accumulate and leech back into the individual's blood. When bilirubin levels in the blood become too high, the skin and whites of the eyes will take on a yellow appearance. This yellow appearance is called jaundice.

Pruritus or an itching sensation of the skin occurs in individuals with ampullary cancer because of salts present in the bile when it builds up in the blood. Bile salts trigger the release of histamine by the immune system, which causes itchiness to occur around the body. Most ampullary cancer patients who present with jaundice will also present with pruritus.

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Nausea And Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that occur in individuals with ampullary cancer. Several mechanisms can independently or cumulatively cause a patient with this type of cancer to feel and get sick to their stomach. The tumor in the ampulla of Vater can cause a restriction of the duodenum and bile ducts. A restricted duodenum prevents food from moving from the stomach into the small intestine at the rate it should. This retention of food in the stomach can result in rotting and toxicity, causing nausea and vomiting. A restricted bile duct causes jaundice or bilirubin accumulation in the blood. This high bilirubin level in the blood is a form of toxicity that can trigger a response of nausea and vomiting. Pancreatic enzymes can back up into the pancreas and cause inflammation, which interferes with the pancreas' normal function. One of the functions that may become impaired is the proper control of blood glucose. When the levels of glucose in the blood are not managed correctly, the extreme swings between high and low can cause a patient to feel or get sick.

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