ACR Codes: 7.3
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with a dismal prognosis, with 5 year survival rates of only 3%. About 10-15% of patients have resectable disease, with resection being the only hope of long-term cure/survival. On CT, findings include a predominantly hypodense mass which only minimally enhances compared to the normal pancreatic parenchyma, loss of the expected lobulated marginal surface of the normal pancreas, blunting of the uncinate process, dilatation of the pancreatic and biliary ducts, and associated pancreatitis. Resectable lesions often show a single focal mass without ductal dilatation or ductal dilatation without an identifiable mass lesion. Unresectable tumors show extension, invasion of adjacent organs or vascular structures, associated adenopathy, liver metastases, and ascites. One mimic of a pancreatic mass is focal pancreatitis. Biopsy is sometimes performed to confirm that a lesion represents carcinoma and not pancreatitis (1).
Reference(s): 1. Webb WR, Brant WE, and Helms CA. Fundamentals of Body CT, 2nd ed. WB Saunders: St. Louis; 1991: 227-230.
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Disease Topic 3814 
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