Computed tomographic findings in patients with localized and extensive pancreatic head cancer were studied. Widening of the pancreatic duct existed in both groups; mass shadow was hardly detected in localized and rather easily detected in extensive cancer; duodenal invasion and obliteration of fat planes were found only in extensive type; enlargement of the pancreas was a confusing factor of tumor detection in localized type; atrophy of the pancreatic body and tail was a most favorable indirect sign in extensive cancer.of pancreas -Pancreatic neoplasms Computed tomography has been anticipated as a useful method for detecting tumor in the head of the pancreas [1][2][3][4][5]. However, correlations between tumor staging and CT findings were not fully explained. In this report we focus on the CT findings in cases with localized and extensive carcinoma in the pancreatic head.
Materials and MethodsTwenty-two cases were selected for this retrospective study. Two cases were carcinoma originating in the distal end of the choledochus. Existence of neoplasm in all was proven by modified Whipple's procedure or exploratory laparotomy.The materials were divided into 2 groups. The first group (localized type) was composed of 7 cases in which a tumor was localized in the parenchyma of the pancreas. The second group (extensive type) included 15 cases with tumor involvement to the duodenum, peripancreatic fat planes, and adjacent vessels of the pancreatic head.Computed tomography was performed with a Siemens Somatom, which has a 256 x256 matrix, 5 sec scan time, 4 or 8 mm Address reprint requests to: K. Inamoto, M.D.,