Aetiology and pathology

Aetiology and pathology

Cassava (tapioca) is a root vegetable that is readily available and inexpensive and is therefore consumed as a staple diet by people from a poor background. It contains derivatives of cyanide that are detoxified in the liver by sulphur-containing amino acids. The less well o ff among the population lack such amino acids in the diet. This results in cyanogen toxicity , causing the disease. Several members of the same family have been known to su ff er from this condition; this strengthens the theory that cassava toxicity is an important cause because family members eat the same food. Macroscopically , the pancreas is firm and nodular with extensive periductal fibrosis, with intraductal calcium carbon - ate stones of di ff erent sizes and shapes that may show branches and resemble a staghorn. T he ducts are dilated. Microscop - ically , intralobular, interlobular and periductal fibrosis is the predominant featur e, with plasma cell and lymphocyte infiltra - tion. There is a high incidence of pancreatic cancer in these patients. Pathology of tropical chronic pancreatitis /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Almost exclusively occurs in resource-poor countries and is due to malnutrition; alcohol is not a cause Cassava ingestion is regarded as an aetiological factor because of its high content of cyanide compounds Dilatation of pancreatic ducts with large intraductal stones Fibrosis of the pancreas as a whole A high incidence of pancreatic cancer in those affected by the disease

Aetiology and pathology

Cassava (tapioca) is a root vegetable that is readily available and inexpensive and is therefore consumed as a staple diet by people from a poor background. It contains derivatives of cyanide that are detoxified in the liver by sulphur-containing amino acids. The less well o ff among the population lack such amino acids in the diet. This results in cyanogen toxicity , causing the disease. Several members of the same family have been known to su ff er from this condition; this strengthens the theory that cassava toxicity is an important cause because family members eat the same food. Macroscopically , the pancreas is firm and nodular with extensive periductal fibrosis, with intraductal calcium carbon - ate stones of di ff erent sizes and shapes that may show branches and resemble a staghorn. T he ducts are dilated. Microscop - ically , intralobular, interlobular and periductal fibrosis is the predominant featur e, with plasma cell and lymphocyte infiltra - tion. There is a high incidence of pancreatic cancer in these patients. Pathology of tropical chronic pancreatitis /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Almost exclusively occurs in resource-poor countries and is due to malnutrition; alcohol is not a cause Cassava ingestion is regarded as an aetiological factor because of its high content of cyanide compounds Dilatation of pancreatic ducts with large intraductal stones Fibrosis of the pancreas as a whole A high incidence of pancreatic cancer in those affected by the disease

Aetiology and pathology

Cassava (tapioca) is a root vegetable that is readily available and inexpensive and is therefore consumed as a staple diet by people from a poor background. It contains derivatives of cyanide that are detoxified in the liver by sulphur-containing amino acids. The less well o ff among the population lack such amino acids in the diet. This results in cyanogen toxicity , causing the disease. Several members of the same family have been known to su ff er from this condition; this strengthens the theory that cassava toxicity is an important cause because family members eat the same food. Macroscopically , the pancreas is firm and nodular with extensive periductal fibrosis, with intraductal calcium carbon - ate stones of di ff erent sizes and shapes that may show branches and resemble a staghorn. T he ducts are dilated. Microscop - ically , intralobular, interlobular and periductal fibrosis is the predominant featur e, with plasma cell and lymphocyte infiltra - tion. There is a high incidence of pancreatic cancer in these patients. Pathology of tropical chronic pancreatitis /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF /uni25CF

Almost exclusively occurs in resource-poor countries and is due to malnutrition; alcohol is not a cause Cassava ingestion is regarded as an aetiological factor because of its high content of cyanide compounds Dilatation of pancreatic ducts with large intraductal stones Fibrosis of the pancreas as a whole A high incidence of pancreatic cancer in those affected by the disease