Pancreatic cancer occurs when malignant cells develop in a part of the pancreas.
This may affect how the pancreas works, including the functioning of the exocrine or endocrine glands.
Research has shown that pancreatic cancer can occur in any part of the pancreas, but about 70% of pancreatic cancers are located in the head of the pancreas.
In a study from the University of Birmingham, scientists found pancreatic cancer tumors are being missed on CT and MRI scans, narrowing the window for life-saving curative surgery.
They studied the records of 600 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 2016 and 2021.
CT and MRI images were independently reviewed by radiologists to develop an algorithm to categorize the missed cases and identify the most likely explanation for why they were missed.
The team analyzed post-imaging pancreatic cancer (PIPC) cases, where a patient undergoes imaging that fails to diagnose pancreatic cancer but is then later diagnosed with the disease.
They found that over a third (36%) of PIPC cases were potentially avoidable, demonstrating a poor detection rate for cancer that has alarming patient outcomes.
Many patients failed to have their cancer diagnosed through their first scan, but then received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis between 3 and 18 months later.
The team says there is often only a very short period for curative surgery in pancreatic cancer, meaning it is vital that patients are diagnosed with the disease as early as possible to give them the best chance of survival.
The study found that evidence of pancreatic cancer was initially missed in over a third of patients with post-imaging pancreatic cancers, which is a huge window of lost opportunity.
The team found in almost half (48%) of PIPC patients examined, there were signs of cancer that had been missed when scans were reviewed by a specialist hepatobiliary radiologist.
In 28% of PIPC patients, imaging signs associated with pancreatic cancer, such as dilated bile or pancreatic ducts, were not recognized and investigated further.
The researchers hope this study will raise awareness of the issue of post-imaging pancreatic cancer and common reasons why pancreatic cancer can be initially missed.
This will help to standardize future studies of this issue and guide quality improvement efforts, so we can increase the likelihood of an early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, increase the chances of patient survival, and ultimately, save lives.
If you care about pancreatic cancer, please read studies about new vaccine that may protect against pancreatic cancer and a new way to kill pancreatic cancer from within.
For more information about pancreatic cancer, please see recent studies about plant compound that may help pancreatic cancer patients and results showing new drug offers hope for people with pancreatic cancer.
The study was conducted by Dr. Nosheen Umar et al and presented at UEG Week 2022.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
