“The Pancreas”…..

Did you know November is Pancreatic Cancer awareness month?

The Cancer Council of Australia states that Pancreatic Cancer is the 5^th most common cancer, with an incidence of 1 in 54 for men and 1 in 70 for women.

Unfortunately, the 5 year survival rate is on 8.7%.

(https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/pancreatic-cancer.html)

Currently there is no specific screening test for Pancreatic Cancer, which results in late detection of the cancer and thus a poor outcome.

There are commonly 2 types of pancreatic carcinoma’s:

• Pancreatic Exocrine Carcinoma’s (93% of Pancreatic Carcinomas).
  • Adenocarcinoma being the most common (It develops in the cells lining the pancreatic duct), and most commonly identified in the head of the pancreas.
• Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma’s (7% of Pancreatic Carcinomas).  These develop from abnormal growth of islet cells within the pancreas.                                            (https://www.pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/about-pancreatic-cancer/types-of-pancreatic-cancer/)

Symptoms that can be associated with Pancreatic Cancer include:

• Upper abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite/weight loss
• Altered bowel habits
• Jaundice
• Diabetes

Ultrasound is a fantastic tool for imaging the Pancreas, in a patient that has been correctly prepped.

• Fasted for 6-8 hours (No eating, chewing or smoking).
• Utilise a curved ultrasound probe ideally 2-10 Mhz.

Techniques to optimise visualisation include:

• Deep inspiration/expiration.
• Distention of the abdomen (Valsalva).
• Give the patient 2 glasses of water (The water acts as a window).
• Examine the pancreas in the erect position.

Written by Gail Crawford (Tutor Sonographer/Director IUE).