Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer

Diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer
The challenge of this disease is finding it early. A doctor cannot see or feel a tumor during a routine exam. To help make the diagnosis (and determine the most appropriate treatment), imaging tests are performed (such as an ultrasound or CT scan) to view pictures of the abdomen and determine the extent of the problem. The green region shown in this colorized CT scan appears to be cancer in the pancreas and liver. The diagnosis comes from a biopsy — taking a tissue sample from the tumor — performed either with a needle through the skin or during an operation.