how to detect pancreatic cancer
If imaging studies detect a mass in the pancreas, a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is likely, but not definite. Only a biopsy -- taking actual tissue from the mass -- can diagnose pancreatic cancer. Percutaneous needle biopsy: Under imaging guidance, a radiologist inserts a needle into the mass, capturing some tissue.
Based on a person's exam, lab tests, and description of symptoms, a doctor often orders an imaging test: Computed tomography (CT scan): A scanner takes multiple X-ray pictures, and a computer reconstructs them into detailed images of the inside of the abdomen. A CT scan helps doctors make a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.