Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head: A focus on current diagnostic and surgical concepts

Table 1 Summary of preoperative evaluation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Painless jaundice in an appropriately aged patient is highly suspicious for pancreatic cancer

Contrast-enhanced computer tomography is the diagnostic standard

High overall diagnostic sensitivity and specificity

Highly accurate in determining local respectability

Less adequate in identifying small hepatic metastases, extent of local lymphadenopathy and peritoneal tumor deposits

Magnetic resonance imaging gives additional information on small isodense or atypical pancreatic lesions

More accurate than contrast-enhanced computer tomography in detecting smaller hepatic metastases

Enhanced ultrasonography/fine-needle biopsy are reserved for the work-up of small lesions (< 2 cm), or in cases where a fine-needle biopsy is required before palliative or neoadjuvant therapy is initiated