<prompt> A 65-year-old woman presents with a 5-week history of yellow skin and sclera, anorexia, and epigastric pain. Her past medical history is significant for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. She smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for the past 20 years. Physical examination reveals jaundice and a palpable gallbladder. Laboratory studies show a serum bilirubin level of 10 mgdL, mostly in the conjugated form, and an elevated alkaline phosphatase 260 UL. A CT scan of the abdomen discloses a mass in the head of the pancreas and multiple nodules in the liver measuring up to 3 cm. Which of the following is the most likely cause of jaundice in this patient?CholelithiasisCirrhosisExtrahepatic biliary obstructionHemolysis  <response>: Pancreatic adenocarcinomas often cause obstruction of the common bile duct due to the proximity of the duct to the head of the pancreas. Painless jaundice is a frequent initial symptom of pancreatic cancer. Dilation of the gallbladder in this setting is termed Courvoisier sign. Cirrhosis choice B is a late complication of extrahepatic biliary obstruction.Diagnosis: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma 