The pancreas is a master organ of the digestive and endocrine systems, hidden deep in the abdomen, just behind the stomach. Its dual function is essential for life: on the one hand, it secretes exocrine enzymes that break down food; on the other, it releases endocrine hormones, such as insulin, that regulate glucose metabolism. Due to its deep anatomical location and the nonspecific nature of its initial symptoms, pancreatic diseases —from chronic pancreatitis to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma— often progress insidiously , earning them a reputation as “silent” illnesses.
