The following tests and others may be used to find out whether you have pancreatic cancer and whether it has spread. If you have questions about these tests, ask your doctor or nurse.

Blood tests. These tests measure the function of the liver and other organs.

No single blood test can diagnose pancreatic cancer at the present time. M. D. Anderson and other institutions are doing research that may result in such a test in the future. For information about this research see the PTSG Clinical Trials Page: Early Detection Study.

Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to form a picture that can be seen on a small television screen. The picture can show the size of the pancreas and possibly the presence of a tumor. Ultrasound is commonly performed by placing a probe on the surface of the abdomen. Improved technology also allows ultrasound probes to be placed at the end of endoscopes that are passed into the stomach and duodenum (see ERCP below). Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can be done at the time of ERCP, and can be used to biopsy (sample) the pancreas.

Computerized tomography (CT) scan. By means of a special type of X-ray machine, this test gives detailed pictures of the body and can show how far cancer has spread. The CT scan is the primary test used to determine whether the tumor can be surgically removed.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). During this test, a flexible tube is guided down the throat, through the stomach, and into the small intestine. The doctor can see through the tube and inject dye into the bile duct and pancreatic duct (Figure 1) as X-rays are taken. This test can show narrowing of these ducts due to pressure from the tumor. A small tube called a stent can be placed into the bile duct across any blockage to relieve jaundice (yellowing). To view a video about ERCP, call MDA-TV, 792-7287, and ask for video #972-1-91.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA). If a tumor has been identified, it can be sampled (or biopsied) in one of two ways: under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or CT.

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS). EUS-guided FNA is performed with a special endoscope that is equipped with an ultrasound probe to enable the doctor to see the tumor. A small needle at the end of the endoscope can be used to biopsy the tumor.

When FNA is performed under CT guidance, a doctor will guide a small needle through the skin and abdomen and into the pancreas after injecting some local anesthesia. A CT scan helps the doctor find the exact location of the tumor. The procedure in which these cells are obtained and then examined under a microscope is called a biopsy.

Angiography. This test studies the blood vessels in and around the pancreas. It is done in the X-ray department with the aid of local anesthesia. A small catheter is placed into the artery in the upper thigh. Dye is injected into the blood vessels leading to the pancreas, and X-rays are taken. These pictures can help the surgeon plan your operation.

Laparoscopy. This test is done in the operating room under general anesthesia. The surgeon guides a small camera through a half-inch incision in your abdomen. The organs in the abdomen can then be examined directly. This test is done to find out if the pancreatic tumor has spread to other organs or structures.