What is the preferred method for diagnosing pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a ductal adenocarcinoma that originates from the glandular epithelium. Abdominal pain, jaundice, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal mass, etc. are common symptoms of pancreatic cancer. The most common age group is 45-60 years old, and the male-to-female ratio is 1.5 to 2:1. For older people with symptoms such as abdominal pain and jaundice, how should we diagnose them in daily life? Let's take a look at it together:

(I) Laboratory examination: Serum bilirubin is significantly elevated, sometimes exceeding 342μmol/L, with direct bilirubin being the main elevated level. Blood alkaline phosphatase is 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 and blood amylase 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.

(ii) 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 pancreatic structure can be clearly depicted and early lesions can be discovered.

(III) CT scan: CT scan can show the correct location and size of pancreatic masses and their relationship with surrounding blood vessels, but about 1/3 of pancreatic masses <2 cm cannot be found in imaging changes, except for the high cost. CT scan should be listed as the main method for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. The CT images of pancreatic cancer are: ① The pancreatic mass is a general or localized mass. There may be an irregular low-density area with blurred outlines in the center of the mass. If the low-density area is large, it may be a manifestation of tumor necrosis or liquefaction; ② When the tumor invades or compresses the bile duct or pancreatic duct, it may cause it to expand; ③ The tumor may invade the dorsal fat layer of the pancreas and surround the superior mesenteric vessels or the inferior vena cava.

(IV) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI can show abnormal pancreatic contours. Based on the signal level of T1-weighted images, early local invasion and metastasis can be determined. MRI is superior to CT scan in determining pancreatic cancer, especially small pancreatic cancer confined to the pancreas, and whether there is peripancreatic spread and vascular invasion. It is a better method for predicting pancreatic cancer before surgery. However, it is expensive.

(V) 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.

Pancreatic cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate in my country. If a patient is lucky enough to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment are effective ways to relieve the patient's pain and prolong the patient's survival rate. Clinically, patients are often treated with the "triple balance therapy" of traditional Chinese medicine. This therapy starts with the patient as a whole, uses natural anti-cancer herbs, and takes into account the key pathogenesis of the patient's body, "deficiency", "stasis" and "toxicity". It takes a comprehensive approach and adopts the three major countermeasures of "strengthening the body", "unblocking" and "detoxifying". It is targeted and focused on medication. It uses the three aspects of strengthening the body, tonifying deficiency, unblocking and removing stasis, and attacking and detoxifying according to the specific situation of the patient, so as to achieve the fundamental purpose of regulating the balance of the body's yin and yang, qi and blood, and the physiological functions of the internal organs.

Through the above detailed introduction of "What is the preferred method for diagnosing pancreatic cancer", I hope it will be helpful to the majority of patients. Oncologists point out that in order to relieve pain and stay away from pancreatic cancer, in daily life, everyone must pay attention to a reasonable diet structure, change bad living habits, and do a good job of prevention.