OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* Obtain urine samples and questionnaire data on cadmium exposure in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
* Analyze these data to determine risk of pancreatic cancer using urine cadmium levels.
Secondary
* Analyze these data in conjunction with data on serum CA 19-9, to determine whether urinary cadmium has clinical utility in predicting pancreatic cancer.
* Determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the cadmium test alone, CA 19-9 alone, and both tests together.
OUTLINE: This is a pilot study.
Patients complete a questionnaire over approximately 20 minutes on lifetime exposure to cadmium, including dietary, occupational, and recreational exposure, smoking history, and residence. Patients also provide a urine sample that is analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum CA 19-9 levels are obtained from medical record if available.
