| Feature | Normal stools | Stools with steatorrhea (Pancreatic failure) |
| Color | Brown (presence of stercobilin) | Pale, clay-colored, or yellowish |
| Consistency | Once formed, it sinks into the water | Greasy, foamy, floats on water |
| Smell | Unpleasant but standard | Extremely foul-smelling and rancid |
| Frequency | 1-2 times a day | Chronic diarrhea, multiple bowel movements |
This signal indicates that the body is expelling vital nutrients instead of absorbing them, which quickly leads to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
3. Involuntary weight loss and cachexia
Unexplained weight loss is a universal red flag in medicine, but in the context of pancreatitis, it has a multifactorial origin. In chronic pancreatitis, weight loss is primarily due to severe nutrient malabsorption (SGM) and fear of eating (sitophobia) due to postprandial pain.
In the case of pancreatic cancer, weight loss is usually more drastic and is accompanied by cachexia, a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by extreme loss of muscle mass and fat. Pancreatic tumors secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines that disrupt the patient’s basal metabolic rate, forcing the body to consume its own energy reserves at an accelerated rate, regardless of caloric intake.
4. Painless obstructive jaundice
Jaundice manifests as a yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera (the whites of the eyes). In pancreatic diseases, this occurs predominantly when a tumor located in the head of the pancreas compresses the common bile duct, blocking the flow of bile from the liver to the intestine.
Unlike jaundice caused by gallstones, which is usually extremely painful, jaundice associated with pancreatic cancer is often painless. This buildup of bilirubin in the blood also causes two other related symptoms:
•Coluria: Dark-colored urine, similar to black tea or cognac.
•Intense pruritus: Generalized itching of the skin due to the deposition of bile salts.
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