Tests For Pancreatic Cancer


The following tests are often used to diagnose cancer of the pancreas:

1st Blood samples
many pancreatic cancers produce a substance called CA 19-9, which can be measured in the blood. CA 19-9 is known as a tumor marker. Approximately 1 in 4 people do not CA 19-9, so that normal levels alone does not mean that someone who is definitely not suffering from pancreatic cancer.

2nd Spiral computed tomography (spiral CT) - CT machine rotates rapidly around the body. A CT scan machine rotates rapidly around the body, with over 100 pictures in a sequence. It only takes a few minutes and faster than a regular CT scan. Spiral CT scans are quite new and you may need to travel to a specialist hospital to have one.


3rd CT (computed tomography) - a series of x-rays that builds up a three-dimensional image of the body. CT scan takes a series of x-rays, which built three-dimensional images of the body. Scan takes about 10-30 minutes and is painless. CT scanning uses small amounts of radiation, which is not likely to hurt you

4th EUS (endoscopic ultrasound)
a thin tube (endoscope) is pushed through the mouth and stomach to produce an image of the pancreas and other organs. To measure tumor size and see if it has spread to nearby tissues. It can also be used to take a tissue sample (biopsy) of the tumor.
Before graduation, you will be asked not to eat or drink anything for about six hours so that the stomach and small intestine (duodenum) are empty. You get injections to help you relax (sedative) and some local anesthetics injected into the back of the neck.

5th Ultrasound
Scan that uses sound waves to view internal organs such as pancreas and liver. You will usually be asked not eat or drink anything for several hours before the test.
When you are lying comfortably on his back, a gel is spread in the area to be scanned. A small device that generates sound waves that passes through the area. Sound waves are then converted into pictures by a computer. This test takes only minutes.
6th MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - uses magnetic fields to build a series of cross-sectional images of the body

7th Biopsy - a small piece of tissue taken from the tumor and look under the microscope

8th Laparotomy - surgery can be done if other tests do not provide a definitive diagnosis.

9th ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography) - used to take biopsies or to unblock the bile duct


10th PET / CT scan - a combination of CT and PET scans, which use low doses of radiation to measure the activity of the cells in the body.

11th Laparoscopy - a small operation done under general anesthesia to see if further surgery is likely


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