Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

According to experienced surgical experts, there are many early symptoms of bile duct cancer. At the same time, different levels of bile duct cancer have different symptoms. At the same time, bile duct cancer patients have different physical constitutions, which will also lead to different manifestations of bile duct cancer. So, let's answer the following four methods for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

What are the methods for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer? Relevant experts have given a detailed introduction to this.

Cytological examination: Currently, it is recommended to perform cytological examination of pancreatic masses by percutaneous fine needle aspiration under the guidance of B-ultrasound or CT before surgery. It has a high diagnostic value for pancreatic cancer and is a simple, safe and effective method. Its main diagnostic function is to provide a clear diagnosis for patients who are in the late stage and cannot undergo surgery. Fine needle aspiration cytological examination can also be used during surgery and can replace pancreatic biopsy, thereby avoiding complications such as bleeding, pancreatic fistula, and acute pancreatitis caused by biopsy.

Laboratory examination: Serum bilirubin is significantly elevated, sometimes exceeding 342μmol/L, with direct bilirubin being the main elevated level. Blood alkaline phosphatase levels are also significantly elevated. Urine bilirubin test is positive or strongly positive. Blood amylase may be transiently elevated in a few early pancreatic cancers due to pancreatic duct obstruction; in the later stages, pancreatic tissue atrophy occurs and blood amylase levels will not change. Pancreatic cancer patients may have elevated fasting blood sugar and a high positive rate in glucose tolerance tests. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) may be elevated in about 70% of pancreatic cancer patients, but it is also nonspecific. Digestive tract cancer-related antigen CA19-9 is considered an indicator for diagnosing pancreatic cancer.

B-ultrasound: direct images of pancreatic cancer can show low-echo tumors, and indirect findings often become clues to discover small pancreatic cancers, such as dilated pancreatic ducts and bile ducts. In addition to the main pancreatic duct, the branches of the pancreatic duct should also be carefully observed. Some small pancreatic cancers may first cause localized dilation of the pancreatic duct branches, such as dilation of the uncinate pancreatic duct. Because the ultrasound probe of endoscopic ultrasound only scans the body, tail and head of the pancreas through the stomach and duodenal walls, it is not affected by gastrointestinal gas. Therefore, the structure inside the pancreas can be clearly depicted and early lesions can be discovered.

CT scan: A CT scan can show the exact location of a pancreatic mass, its size, and its relationship to the surrounding blood vessels.