The Value of Modern Ultrasonographic Techniques and Computed Tomography in Detecting and Staging of Pancreatic Carcinoma

Abstract

Objective : to assess the clinical value of ultrasonographic methods and computed tomography in diagnosing and staging pancreatic carcinoma.

Methods : prospective clinical trial of 140 patients (64 women and 77 men; mean age 59,6) operated on for pancreatic carcinoma between 2000 and 2004. In each case helical CT, routine-, color-and power Doppler and 3-D USG were performed to detect and stage cancer. Analyses of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of ultrasonographic methods and CT were made.

Results : 3-D USG showed the best accuracy of local staging (T): 95.6%. CT was the most accurate in lymph node assessment: 91.3%. The accuracy of CT, 3-D USG and power-Doppler at detecting vascular infiltration was 93.1%. Conclusions : diagnostic accuracy of modern ultrasound techniques is comparable to helical CT in detecting and staging pancreatic carcinoma. USG is recommended due to the relatively low cost, non-invasiveness and availability of the procedure.

Key Words:

• Pancreatic cancer
• ultrasonography
• computed tomography

Additional information

Notes on contributors

S. Klçk

Stanislaw Kłek 1^st Department of General and GI Surgery Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian university Kopernika Street, 31–501, Cracow Tel.: + 48 12 424-80-07 Fax :+ 48 12 421-35-83 E-mail: [email protected]