Imaging and Screening of Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Given the low disease prevalence of both exocrine and endocrine cancers in the general population, screening is not recommended. However, in as many as 25% of cases there is a precursor lesion or an identifiable genetic predisposition. For these patients at increased risk, screening with imaging is recommended. Multidetector computed tomography, MR imaging or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic ultrasound examination can be used as screening modalities. Recent advances in dual energy CT and total body MR imaging have increased the suitability of these noninvasive modalities as first-line imaging screening options.

Keywords: Cancer screening; Familial pancreatic cancer syndrome; Hereditary tumor predisposition syndromes; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor; Precursor lesions.