Computed Tomography for Diagnosis and Staging in Pancreatic Cancer

Computed tomography (CT) is essential for the positive diagnosis and for appropriate staging of pancreatic cancer. Locoregional assessment is mandatory to accurately select patients who will benefit from up-front surgery with negative margin. CT technique includes a three-phase protocol including a pancreatic arterial phase, which allows the best tumor conspicuity, and a portal venous phase for assessment of liver and peritoneum. Due to a high spatial resolution, performance of CT for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is excellent with a high sensitivity and specificity. Use of high-quality MPR images provides more accurate information regarding vascular anatomy and vascular invasion and resectability of pancreatic carcinoma. Future development of dual-energy technique will increase the sensitivity of CT for detection of iso-attenuated tumor.