Pancreatic carcinoma: Imaging update 2001

This paper discusses the most recent advances in imaging of pancreatic carc inomas. The specific modalities dis cussed include helical computed tomogra phy (HCT) with combined CT angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) an d magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and positron emission tomography (PET), Endoscopic ultrasound is discussed in other papers, HCT is believed to be the most efficacious modality for initial detection and s taging of pancreatic carcinomas, It has an accuracy rate of about 95-97% fo r the detection of carcinomas and of virtually 100% for staging unresectabl e carcinomas, The accuracy for CT staging of a resectable tumor is about 80 -85%, with small surface metastases to liver and peritoneum being the most often missed findings. MRI and MRCP a re best used for evaluation of patien ts that cannot receive intravenous contrast media for HCT and of patients w ho have equivocal HCT findings, PET imaging may be useful for detection of extrapancreatic nodal metastases. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.