Epidemiology, pathology, and physiology of pancreatic diseases

Abstract In this chapter, both malignant and benign pancreatic tumors were discussed and illustrated, including epidemiology, histopathology, immunochemistry, and molecular pathology of each tumor to help clinical doctors to make diagnosis and therapy. The pathogenesis of pancreatic disease is intricate and complex, which are involved in many aspects, such as injury of cell, role of cytokines, organ damage and fibrosis. The most common clinical diseases in pancreas are mainly inflammatory, endocrine, cystic, and neoplastic diseases. Immunological changes in the diseases of pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, type I diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic tumors will be a focus in this chapter.