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Indicative findings of pancreatic cancer in prediagnostic CT

  • Hepatobiliary-Pancreas
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Abstract

We examined 20 prediagnostic CTs from 16 patients for whom the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was delayed until full diagnostic CT was performed. Three radiologists independently reviewed the prediagnostic CTs along with 50 CTs of control subjects, including patients without pancreatic disease (n = 38) or with chronic pancreatitis without calcification visible on CT (n = 12). The reviewers recorded the presence of biliary or pancreatic ductal dilation, interruption of the pancreatic duct, distal parenchymal atrophy, contour abnormality and focal hypoattenuation. Frequency, sensitivity and specificity of the significant findings were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Findings indicative of pancreatic cancer were seen on 85% (17/20) of the prediagnostic CTs. Patients with pancreatic cancer were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to show focal hypoattenuation, pancreatic duct dilation, interruption of the pancreatic duct, and distal parenchymal atrophy, with sensitivities and specificities of 75%/84%, 50%/78%, 45%/82% and 45%/96%, respectively. Focal hypoattenuation and distal parenchymal atrophy were the independent predictors of pancreatic cancer with odds ratios of 20.92 and 11.22, respectively. In conclusion, focal hypoattenuation and pancreatic duct dilation with or without interruption, especially when accompanied by distal parenchymal atrophy, were the most useful findings for avoiding delayed diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Eun Hee Choi, Department of Biostatistics, Severance Hospital, for the statistical consultation and analysis of data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Sung Soo Ahn, Myeong-Jin Kim, Jin-Young Choi, Hye-Suk Hong, Yong Eun Chung & Joon Seok Lim

  2. Institute of Gastroenterology and Brain Korea 21 project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Myeong-Jin Kim

  3. Department of Radiology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Shinchon-dong 134, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea

    Myeong-Jin Kim

Authors
  1. Sung Soo Ahn
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  2. Myeong-Jin Kim
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  3. Jin-Young Choi
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  4. Hye-Suk Hong
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  5. Yong Eun Chung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myeong-Jin Kim.

Additional information

This paper was presented at the 2008 RSNA Annual Meeting.

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Ahn, S.S., Kim, MJ., Choi, JY. et al. Indicative findings of pancreatic cancer in prediagnostic CT. Eur Radiol 19, 2448–2455 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1422-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1422-6

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