Resectability of the Pancreatic Cancer: the Role of Imaging

Horatiu Branda1, Radu Badea1, William R. Lees2, Martin Oertl3, Vasile Popita4, Cornel Iancu5, Ovidiu Bala5

1) 3rd Medical Clinic, Cluj-Napoca. 2) Middlesex Hospital, University College London, United Kingdom.3) Enns Hospital, Radiology Department, Austria. 4) Oncological Institute “Ion Chiricuta”. 5) 3rd Surgical Clinic, Cluj-Napoca

Abstract

Medical Imaging has a key role in the assessment of patients in whom clinically symptoms suggest a pancreatic malignancy. High Resolution Ultrasonography and Computed Tomography in Spiral Technique are the two main methods for diagnosis and staging. The imaging diagnosis and staging of pancreatic carcinoma is based on the identification of a pancreatic mass, upstream dilatation of the pancreatic duct or of the bile ducts and evidence of extension beyond the borders of the pancreatic gland, including metastatic lesions. In practice, the aspects of these diagnostic findings are debated all together, in order to establish an accurate indication for curative or palliative surgery.

Key words

Pancreatic neoplasm – imaging diagnosis and staging - surgical resectability