Depression preceding the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

Mafalda Ferreira; Hélder Moreira; Helder Esperto; Armando Carvalho

doi:10.1136/bcr-2019-231585

Depression preceding the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Feb 4;14(2):e231585. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2019-231585.

Authors

Mafalda Ferreira^{1

2}, Hélder Moreira³, Helder Esperto^{4

2}, Armando Carvalho^{4

2}

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra EPE, Coimbra, Portugal mafalda.alvesferreira@gmail.com.
² Internal Medicine Department, University of Coimbra Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal.
³ Pathology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.
⁴ Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar e Universitario de Coimbra EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is the tumour related to higher rates of depression. Several papers have validated the association between pancreatic cancer and depression. It was noticed that in some cases the psychiatric symptoms precede the somatic ones. We present a case of a progressive and incapacitating diffuse abdominal pain, initially attributed to psychosomatic disorder. This hindered a timely correct diagnosis leading to a poor outcome. A pancreatic adenocarcinoma in an unresectable stage was confirmed by histopathology. The patient underwent chemotherapy.

Keywords: Depressive disorder; Pancreatic cancer.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Abdominal Pain / etiology
Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
Depression* / diagnosis
Depression* / drug therapy
Depression* / etiology
Drug Therapy*
Fatigue / etiology
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Mirtazapine / therapeutic use*
Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

Antidepressive Agents
Mirtazapine