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Cancer research

Unmasking Pancreatic Cancer: A Rare Case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, have reported a rare case of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) secondary to pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a patient with type 3c diabetes mellitus. The case highlights the importance of a thorough workup to identify the underlying etiology of DKA. The patient, a 55-year-old male, presented with confusion and disorientation, and was diagnosed with DKA, with an MRI imaging showing a diffusely swollen pancreas and an endoscopic ultrasound revealing a lesion suggestive of pancreatic neoplasm. A fine-needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and the patient's condition was classified as type 3c diabetes mellitus secondary to the malignancy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The case highlights the importance of considering pancreatic malignancy as a rare but critical underlying cause of DKA.
  • The patient's diagnosis was made possible through a comprehensive workup, including MRI imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, and fine-needle biopsy.
  • The patient's condition was classified as type 3c diabetes mellitus, a rare and severe form of diabetes mellitus.
  • The study emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to be aware of the potential for pancreatic malignancy as an underlying cause of DKA.
  • The research was conducted by researchers at Ain Shams University, led by Radwa S. Askar, with additional authors Ibraheem Magdy Ibraheem and Nourhan Assem Aly.
  • The study was published in The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology in 2025.
  • The diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was confirmed through a fine-needle biopsy, which is a minimally invasive procedure.

Statistics:

  • The patient's age was 55 years.
  • The patient had no prior history of diabetes mellitus or significant abdominal pain.
  • The patient's presentation was with confusion and disorientation, which lasted for one day.
  • The patient was diagnosed with DKA, which is a common medical presentation, but a thorough workup is essential to identify its underlying etiology.
  • The MRI imaging showed a diffusely swollen pancreas, indicating chronic pancreatitis.
  • The endoscopic ultrasound revealed a lesion suggestive of chronic focal pancreatitis versus pancreatic neoplasm.
  • The fine-needle biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
  • The patient's condition was classified as type 3c diabetes mellitus secondary to the malignancy.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers at Ain Shams University Target Diabetic Ketoacidosis (Unmasking Pancreatic Cancer: A Rare Case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Patient with Type 3c Diabetes Mellitus, Diagnosed by Endoscopic Ultrasound). Cancer Weekly. November 4, 2025; p 400.
  • The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology. Unmasking Pancreatic Cancer: A Rare Case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Patient with Type 3c Diabetes Mellitus, Diagnosed by Endoscopic Ultrasound. 2025;85(4):554-558.

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