C25.4: Malignant neoplasm: Endocrine pancreas

The pancreas is tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The pancreas produces messenger substances. The messenger substances control the sugar level in the blood. The pancreas also produces a fluid that is released into the intestines. This fluid contains substances that are important for the digestion of fats, proteins and sugars.

The pancreas is made up of 3 parts: the head, the body and the tail. The head of the pancreas is right next to the first part of the small intestine. The body of the pancreas sits in front of the aorta. Important blood vessels run along the body of the pancreas from the intestines. The tail of the pancreas sits to the left of the abdomen next to the spleen.

The cancer is in the part of the pancreas that produces messenger substances for the body.

The tissue in the body is made up of cells. With cancer, the cells multiply uncontrollably, which leads to a malignant neoplasm (abnormal growth of tissue) developing. The cancer cells can destroy the healthy tissue and spread throughout the body.

Please note: This ICD code may also derive from the ICD-O system. If this is the case, there are usually additional letters and numbers in addition to the code. It starts with the letter M, followed by 4 digits and then a slash. There is another digit after the slash.

If it is an ICD-O code, then this does not describe a malignant cancer in all cases. The last digit after the slash gives you more detailed information about this:

/0 – The tumor is benign. Cells in a tissue multiply uncontrollably. However, they are not destroying the surrounding tissue and are also not spreading throughout the body.
/1 – It is not known for sure whether the tumor is benign or malignant.
/2 – It is an early form of cancer, a precancerous stage where the cells are altered and multiply uncontrollably. However, they are not yet spreading beyond a certain margin and cannot spread to other organs either.
/3 – It is a malignant cancer. The cells in the affected tissue are altered and multiply uncontrollably. They can destroy the surrounding tissue and spread throughout the body.
/6 – It is a metastasis. Cancer cells have spread from the originally affected site to a different site in the body and have further multiplied there.
/9 – It is either a malignant cancer or a metastasis. The cells in the affected tissue are altered and multiply uncontrollably. However, it is impossible to say whether these cells derive originally from the affected site or have spread there from a different site in the body.

Patient Disclaimer

The information provided on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not intended for self-diagnosis and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns about your health.

If you see an ICD diagnosis code (e.g., on a medical report), be aware that doctors may also include additional indicators to express diagnostic certainty. Only a healthcare professional can interpret these codes accurately in the context of your individual case.

For a complete understanding of your condition and what the diagnosis means for you, please speak directly with your doctor.