Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Appointment New Patient Appointment or 214-645-4673

Appointment New Patient Appointment or 214-645-4673

Diagnosing pancreatic cancer can be difficult because of where the pancreas is located and the early symptoms can be unclear. However, finding it early is possible and can help with treatment. It’s important to know that while some symptoms can be related to pancreatic cancer, but they can also be caused by other, less serious issues.

Here are some signs to look out for:

  • Abdominal pain: You might feel a dull ache in your upper belly, especially after eating, and it could sometimes spread to your back.
  • Weight loss: Losing weight without trying.
  • Jaundice: Your skin and the whites of your eyes may turn yellow, and you might notice darker urine and lighter stools.   
  • Loss of appetite: You may not feel as hungry.
  • Nausea and vomiting: Some people may feel sick to their stomach or throw up often.
  • Fatigue: Feeling more tired than usual.
  • Sudden-onset diabetes: A quick change in blood sugar levels.

Talk to your doctor if you notice any of these signs progressing.

Pancreatic dynamic enhanced spiral CT

Diagnostic Tests for Pancreatic Cancer

In addition to a physical exam and health history, tools and techniques to diagnose pancreatic cancer include:

Blood tests: Blood tests can help check for liver function abnormalities, elevated pancreatic enzymes, and elevated tumor markers (CA 19-9), which can be signs of pancreatic cancer.

Imaging tests:

  • CT scan: A computerized tomography scan can create detailed images of the pancreas and surrounding organs.
  • MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging can provide more detailed images, especially if the tumor is small or difficult to detect with a CT scan.

Endoscopic ultrasound: This procedure involves inserting a thin tube with a camera into the esophagus and stomach to examine the pancreas.

Biopsy: If imaging tests suggest the presence of a tumor, a biopsy may be performed to obtain a tissue sample for examination under a microscope. This is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Genetic Testing: Every patient with pancreatic cancer, regardless of personal/family history, will need genetic testing to determine whether the pancreatic cancer is hereditary. Some patients might require testing of the tumor to direct treatment options conversation.

Stages of Pancreatic Cancer

To plan treatment for pancreatic cancer, it is important to know the stage of the disease. Staging is a way of describing where the cancer is located, if or where it has spread, and whether it is affecting other parts of the body. Knowing the stage helps us decide what kind of treatment is best.

Pancreatic cancers are commonly staged into one of four categories, based on whether they are resectable (removable with surgery) and if or where they have spread.

  • Resectable: This type of pancreatic cancer can be surgically removed (resected). The tumor might be located only in the pancreas or slightly beyond it, but it has not grown into important arteries or veins in the area or spread to other body systems or organs. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients are diagnosed with this stage.
  • Borderline resectable: This stage describes a tumor that can be difficult or impossible to resect when it is first diagnosed but that might be resectable after being shrunk with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients are diagnosed at this stage.
  • Locally advanced: The tumor is located only in the area around the pancreas, but it cannot be surgically removed because it has grown into nearby arteries, veins, or organs. However, it has not spread to any distant parts of the body. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients are diagnosed at this stage.
  • Metastatic: The tumor has spread beyond the area of the pancreas and to other organs, such as the liver or distant areas of the abdomen. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of patients are diagnosed at this stage.