Pavarotti in serious condition at Italian hospital

ROME -- Luciano Pavarotti's health has deteriorated and he's in serious condition, the Italian news agencies ANSA and AGI reported Wednesday.

Citing medical sources, ANSA said the 71-year-old tenor, who has pancreatic cancer, was believed to have lost consciousness for brief moments in recent days. The singer has been at home in Modena, under doctors' care.

AGI said Pavarotti was in "very serious condition." It didn't name its sources.

Modena hospital spokesman Alberto Greco confirmed Pavarotti was at home, but said he had no further information.

Pavarotti's manager, Terri Robson, did not deny the reports; an associate answering Robson's phone said she had no comment.

Pavarotti was released from the hospital Aug. 25, more than two weeks after he was admitted with a high fever. At the time, Robson denied Italian news reports that he had been treated for pneumonia.

The opera star had surgery for the cancer in July 2006 in a New York hospital.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of the disease, though doctors said the surgery offered improved hopes for survival.

At the time of the operation, Pavarotti had been preparing to resume his farewell tour. He has made no public appearances since then.