Pancreatic tumor resectability: spiral CT, surgical and pathological assessment

ABSTRACT

Resectability of pancreatic tumors can be difficult to assess. The initial investigations [abdominal ultrasonography and; conventional C.T.scans] may fail to assess the resectability of pancreatic tumors in up to 30% of cases. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of spiral computed tomography [C.T.] in assessing the resectability of small pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and; to correlate the C.T findings with histopathologic and surgical findings. Spiral C.T. scans were obtained in fifteen patients who underwent surgery for potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. C.T. findings were correlated with surgically assessed extent of tumor and pathological findings. Twelve patients had resection of the tumor with pancreaticoduodenectomy operation Three patients proved during operation inoperable due to the presence of small [< 1 cm] hepatic metastatic deposits [2 patients] and peritoneal and omental seedling in one patient. We concluded that thin-section helical CT is a useful application in the diagnostic imaging of pancreatic tumor and in determining tumor resectability