Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) Nursing Practice Test

What is the typical prognosis for invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas upon diagnosis?

1. Demonstrate spread to the liver

2. Display widespread fat necrosis

3. Metastasize to the bone

4. Remain confined to the primary site

The correct answer is: Demonstrate spread to the liver

Invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas generally has a poor prognosis upon diagnosis. Most cases are already advanced at the time of discovery due to the insidious nature of the disease and its vague symptoms. The majority of patients have either locally advanced disease or metastatic disease. When considering the typical progression of this type of cancer, hepatic involvement is quite common, and many patients will present with the disease having already spread to the liver. This metastatic spread significantly influences the prognosis, as it indicates a more advanced stage of cancer, making treatment options less effective and reducing overall survival rates. The other options do not accurately represent the common prognosis at diagnosis for this type of cancer. Widespread fat necrosis or metastasizing to the bone are not typical initial presenting features, while remaining confined to the primary site is less frequently the case because the tumor often metastasizes before diagnosis. Therefore, the correct understanding of the prognosis highlights the significant likelihood of hepatic spread at the time of diagnosis.