What are the methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer

When it comes to cancer, everyone will panic. In addition, cancer does not have any obvious symptoms in the early stages of the disease, so it is easy to be ignored by everyone. Therefore, once you find that you are unwell, you should go to the hospital for a clear diagnosis instead of making assumptions on your own. So what are the methods for diagnosing pancreatic cancer? Let's take a closer look below.

(I) 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 good method for predicting pancreatic cancer before surgery. However, it is expensive.

(II) Laboratory examination: Serum bilirubin is significantly elevated, sometimes exceeding 342μmol/L, with direct bilirubin being the main cause of the elevation. 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 cancer cases due to pancreatic duct obstruction; in the later stages of pancreatic tissue atrophy, blood amylase will not change.

(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. Pancreatic masses are generalized or localized. 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 can cause it to expand; ③. The tumor can invade the dorsal fat layer of the pancreas and surround the superior mesenteric vessels or the inferior vena cava.

(IV) 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.

Pancreatic cancer is a type of malignant tumor that poses a serious threat to our physical and mental health. Once the best time for treatment is missed, other complications may occur. Therefore, we must not take it lightly. If you suspect that you have pancreatic cancer, it is best to go to the hospital for the above-mentioned examinations.