The use of operative sonography in carcinoma of the pancreas

Abstract

Abstract We studied 22 patients who underwent surgery for suspected pancreatic carcinoma. One individual was found to have a normal pancreas and one mass was finally diagnosed as chronic pancreatitis. Accurate diagnoses were made preoperatively in 63% of our patients. All masses were palpated intraoperatively. Operative ultrasonography confirmed these findings and the absence of a mass in the patient with a normal pancreas. Operative sonography (OS) revealed 2 previously undetected lesions and permitted 2 biopsies of lesions under its guidance. It was helpful in diagnosing 18% of lesions. In evaluating the spread of pancreatic carcinoma, OS was very helpful in 32% of our patients and moderately helpful in 18%. OS thus helped to direct surgical management in 50% of our patients, by providing information that limited dissection in patients with unresectable spread or permitted resection to proceed in the absence of evidence of unresectability .