Can pancreatic cancer be detected by a CT scan?

Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
Updated on December 26, 2024
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Pancreatic cancer can be detected by CT, which shows both direct and indirect signs. The direct signs of pancreatic cancer are manifested as pancreatic masses, which are mostly lobulated. On plain scans, the tumor appears isodense or slightly hypodense compared to the pancreatic parenchyma. When the tumor is large, it appears as a local protrusion, mostly located within the pancreas. In the early phase after enhancement, the tumor enhances less than the surrounding normal pancreatic tissue because pancreatic cancer is a hypovascular tumor. Indirect signs are mainly secondary changes caused by pancreatic cancer, mainly affecting the common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct, which can lead to pancreatic duct dilation, characterized by the typical double duct sign.

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Can acute pancreatitis turn into pancreatic cancer?

Acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are two diseases that occur in the same organ, the pancreas. However, acute pancreatitis is entirely an inflammatory change, often caused by gallstones, alcohol consumption, binge eating, and hyperlipidemia, with some cases being idiopathic. Pancreatic cancer, on the other hand, is a tumorous lesion and is a malignant tumor that generally requires surgery. Many pancreatic cancer patients are already in the advanced stages when discovered, making the surgery difficult to perform. The prognosis for patients is also completely different. After the onset of acute pancreatitis and treatment, the pancreas recovers, the inflammation subsides, and it does not affect a person's lifespan. However, if pancreatic cancer is clearly diagnosed, the lifespan oftentimes does not extend beyond a few years.

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Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that arises from the pancreas.

The causes of pancreatic cancer are not yet entirely clear, but its occurrence is associated with smoking, drinking alcohol, high-fat and high-protein diets, excessive consumption of coffee, environmental pollution, and genetic factors. Recent surveys have found that the incidence of pancreatic cancer is significantly higher among diabetics than in the general population. There is also evidence suggesting a certain relationship between chronic pancreatitis and the development of pancreatic cancer, with a notably increased risk of pancreatic cancer among patients with chronic pancreatitis. Additionally, many other factors such as occupation, environment, and geography are somewhat related to the occurrence of this disease. Pancreatic cancer is not a cancer that comes from anger or emotional causes.

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What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

The most common symptom of pancreatic cancer is abdominal pain, typically pain in the upper abdomen. Jaundice is also common, especially in cancers of the head of the pancreas, where it is the most frequent clinical manifestation. Upon physical examination, some patients may have a palpable mass in the upper abdomen. Other common symptoms include gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness after eating, and a decrease in appetite. These are some of the symptoms related to the digestive tract.

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Early symptoms and manifestations of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a type of malignant tumor that has seen an increase in incidence in recent years. The early symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer include the following: many patients experience abdominal pain, which often radiates to the shoulder and back. Additionally, some patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer may develop jaundice in the skin and mucous membranes, and some may even exhibit bleeding spots. Moreover, some patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer may show symptoms of indigestion, experiencing repeated belching, nausea, and loss of appetite. Furthermore, the symptoms of early-stage pancreatic cancer are generally not typical because the tumor is located deep within the body and is small, hence it does not invade surrounding tissues. Therefore, the clinical symptoms are neither severe nor diverse.

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Is a pancreatic tumor the same as pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic tumors include benign and malignant tumors of the pancreas. Common benign pancreatic tumors include insulinomas, which can cause hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin secretion. Other benign tumors of the pancreas include adenomas, lipomas, and fibromas, which are relatively rare clinically. Malignant tumors of the pancreas are commonly referred to as pancreatic cancer, which has a high degree of malignancy. Early-stage pancreatic cancer patients are primarily treated with surgery.