Diagnosis of Small Carcinoma of the Pancreas: Importance of Ultrasound Scanning and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Diagnostic aspects of 23 patients with carcinoma of the pancreaswere analyzed and four cases of small cancer (less than 2 cm)were presented. These tumors were resected between January 1975and Dcember 1982 in the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo. Initial signs and symptoms were generally vague and none ofthem were specific for pancreatic cancer. The most importantclues to the detection of the tumor were jaundice in the casesof pancreas head cancer, and extragastric compression demonstratedby x-ray examination in cases of cancer of the pancreas bodyand tail. In those cases without jaundice, elevated levels ofamylase and glucose in the serum and urine were important findings.In regard to imaging diagnosis, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographyand ultra-sonography were the most helpful means of diagnosisof small pancreatic carcinoma.