Can Pancreatitis Turn Into Cancer?

Pancreatitis can be classified into acute and chronic types. Acute pancreatitis typically doesn't carry a high risk of developing into cancer. However, if acute pancreatitis occurs repeatedly, it may progress into chronic pancreatitis. Additional factors such as heavy alcohol consumption can also contribute to the development of chronic pancreatitis, which is associated with an increased likelihood of malignancy.

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive disease that worsens over time, leading to increasing fibrosis of the pancreas. Medical interventions currently focus on slowing the progression of the disease. As chronic pancreatitis advances, there is a possibility it may develop into pancreatic cancer. According to some reports, individuals with chronic pancreatitis have approximately a 1.4% chance of developing pancreatic cancer within nine years. Although this figure is only an estimate and exact risks may vary, chronic pancreatitis is still considered a significant risk factor for pancreatic cancer.