title: Clinical and radiologic characteristics of pancreatic head carcinoma without main pancreatic duct dilatation: using dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT scan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to evaluate characteristics of pancreatic cancer without main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation on dual-phase computed tomographic (CT) scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 16 patients with pancreatic head cancer without accompanying MPD dilatation and 39 patients with MPD dilatation
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevation of serum amylase level and peripancreatic fluid collection were more frequently seen in the MPD(-). Common bile duct dilatation and atrophy of the upstream pancreatic parenchyma were more frequently seen in MPD(+).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreatic cancers without MPD dilatation were more frequently related to acute pancreatitis and had fewer secondary signs. Thus, early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with these characteristics could be difficult.
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea. Electronic address: ciy1114@naver.com.
authors.forename: In Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Keu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yeom
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Hwan Hoon
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hyun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Computed tomography; Ductal adenocarcinoma; Main pancreatic duct dilatation; Pancreas