title: Pancreatic imaging.
abstract: Pancreatic cancer has traditionally been difficult to diagnose. There are now numerous diagnostic tests that can visualize these tumors early when they are small and determine which cases are the most likely to be unresectable. The principal tests, including spiral CT, MR imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, and laparoscopy, have advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this article is to review each technique, and try to come up with a recommended approach to evaluating the patient with pancreatic malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, and the Digestive Disease Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional