About this episode
Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob explore pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers through four patient cases packed with clinical pearls. We begin with a 63-year-old man presenting with painless jaundice, pruritus, and weight loss. Zach walks through the differential for obstructive cholestasis, covering malignant (pancreatic head cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, ampullary tumors) and benign (stones, strictures) causes. We emphasize RUQ ultrasound's role in assessing for ductal dilation, followed by pancreas-protocol CT and EUS-guided FNA to confirm pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Management hinges on resectability, with Zach outlining surgical criteria and adjuvant chemotherapy options. Next, we discuss a 58-year-old man with cirrhosis and a newly detected liver nodule on routine surveillance. With an elevated AFP and classic arterial enhancement with portal venous washout on imaging, the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) becomes clear. We outline curative options for early-stage disease—including surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation—and review the role of transplant under Milan criteria. Case three features a 48-year-old woman with primary sclerosing cholangitis and rising cholestasis, prompting a focused discussion on perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor). We highlight the role of MRCP for mapping strictures, followed by ERCP with brushings to confirm malignancy. With localized disease, Zach walks through surgical resection with liver wedge + bile duct excision, followed by adjuvant capecitabine, and offers guidance on palliative strategies for unresectable disease. Finally, we examine a 72-year-old woman with a porcelain gallbladder and new mass—raising suspicion for gallbladder carcinoma. The case underscores the importance of RUQ ultrasound for polypoid lesions and how staging dictates surgery. For early T1a disease, simple laparoscopic cholecystectomy is curative; deeper invasion requires extended cholecystectomy. We close with a summary of diagnostic strategies: ultrasound for ductal or gallbladder disease, triphasic CT or MRI for liver masses, MRCP for PSC patients, and pancreas-protocol CT for head-of-pancreas tumors. Each case reinforces the principle: start broad, refine with the right imaging, and let stage drive treatment. Let’s get into it, Ninja Nerds! Support the show