PET/CT Can be Used for Preventing Futile Laparotomy in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Irving, TX, February 15, 2014 --(PR.com)-- PET/CT can be used as initial staging work-up for pancreatic cancer to prevent futile laparotomy by detecting occult metastatic disease in patients with resectable/borderline disease.

A study was done regarding this and the Doctor who conducted the study said, "The only cure for pancreatic cancer is the early detection and complete surgical resection. PET/CT helps in improving the detection of occult metastases and this helps in avoiding a potentially unnecessary operation."

In the study, 287 patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer received initial CT plus endoscopic ultrasonography as initial staging work-up. Of these pancreatic cancer patients, 62% were considered resectable and 38%, resectable/borderline.

Median time from CT to PET/CT was 5 days, at which point the PET/CT findings changed management in 34 patients (11.9%): 33 were upstaged to stage IV and one patient, to stage III. In 21 patients, metastatic lesions were confirmed on biopsy. The role of PET/CT scan should be validated in this study.

PET / CT of Las Colinas was developed with both patients and physicians in mind and our scan and imaging services have been used for various types of disease; primarily in detecting, staging and monitoring cancer, but also in heart disease and brain disorders.

About the Center:
PET / CT of Las Colinas is an independently owned imaging and scanning center that is dedicated to serving the community’s evolving imaging needs. Our imaging center is located conveniently across the highway from the Las Colinas Medical Center within the Las Colinas Cancer Center on Highway 161 in Irving, TX.