ABSTRACT
Objective To compare various CT signs of pancreatic carcinoma (PC) and inflammatory pancreatic mass (IPM), and to study the diagnostic value of these signs for distinguishing two diseases. Methods Eigty-five patients with PC and IPM were proved by surgery, fine needle aspiration or other comprehensive methods. These patients underwent non-enhanced and enhanced CT scans. CT findings were analyzed retrospectively. The occurrance rates of various CT signs in these two diseases were analyzed with Fisher test and were compared with the corresponding clinical and operational results as welL Results Among the 85 patients, 66 patients were proved to have PC, and 19 were proved to have IPM. In PC group,58 were corerectly diagnosed with CT, 3 (4. 5% ) were misdiagnosed, and 5 (7.6%) were omitted. In IPM group, 9 were correctly diagnosed with CT and 10 (52. 6% ) were misdiagnosed. The CT findings were as follows: (1) Pancreatic mass with liver metastases, lymph node metastases, encased celiac arteries, and cancer emboli in portal veins just occurred in PC group. (2) The occurrence rates of mass over 3 cm in diameter, clear boundary, low-density area within the mass, pseudocysts, peripancreatie infiltration, ascites, and slight and moderate pancreatic-bile duct dilation in PC group were 90. 91% (60/66), 15.15% ( 10/66), 54. 55% ( 36/66 ), 10. 61% ( 7/66 ), 4. 55% ( 3/66 ), 22. 73% ( 15/66 ), 24. 24% ( 16/66 ), 45.45% (30/66), and 27. 27% (18/66) respectively, the occurrence rates in IPM group were 94. 74% ( 18/19), 15.79% ( 3/19 ), 52. 63% ( 10/19 ), 15.79% ( 3/19 ), 15. 79% ( 3/19 ), 21.05% (4/19), 31.58% (6/19) ,21.05% (4/19), and 5.26% (1/19) respectively. There was no statistical difference for these CT findings between two groups(P >0. 05). (3) Pancreatic head mass with atrophy of pancreatic body and tail, mass calcification, pancreatic duct-penetrating sign, pancreatic head mass with hypertrophy of pancreatic body and tail, biliary stones with inflammation , and thickening of pre-kidney fascia in PC group were 48.48% ( 32/66 ), 3.03% ( 2/66 ), 1.52% ( 1/66 ), 10. 61% ( 7/66 ), 6. 06% ( 4/66 ) and 3.03% (2/66) respectively, the occurrence rates of those in IPM group were 5. 26% (1/19),47.37% (9/19), 15.79% ( 3/19 ), 84. 21% ( 16/19 ), 36. 84% ( 7/19 ) and 21.05% ( 4/19 ) respectively. There was statistical difference for these CT findings between two groups ( P < 0. 05 ) . Conclusion Accurate evaluation of various CT signs in PC and IPM is of great importance in the diagnosis of the two diseases.