In a recent study, researchers from the United Kingdom revealed how pancreatic cancer tumors are overlooked on CT and MRI scans, reducing the window for life-saving curative surgery. The study analyzed post-imaging pancreatic cancer (PIPC) cases, where a patient undergoes imaging and fails to get diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but is then later diagnosed with the disease.

The results of the analysis revealed that over a third (36%) of PIPC cases were potentially avoidable, demonstrating a poor detection rate for cancer that has alarming patient outcomes. In the study, 600 patients were enrolled, out of which 46 (7.7%) failed to have their cancer diagnosed through their first scan but then received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis between 3 and 18 months later.

The study results also revealed that in almost half (48%) of PIPC patients examined, there were signs of cancer that had been missed when scans were reviewed by a specialist hepatobiliary radiologist. In 28% of PIPC patients, imaging signs associated with pancreatic cancer, such as dilated bile or pancreatic ducts, were not recognized and investigated further.

Hence, Dr. Nosheen Umar, the lead author of the study from the University of Birmingham, UK, commented that the study can raise awareness of the issue of post-imaging pancreatic cancer and the common reasons why pancreatic cancer can be initially missed. This will help to standardize future studies of this issue and guide quality improvement efforts, thereby increasing the likelihood of an early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. This can increase the chances of patient survival and, ultimately, save lives. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/researchers-reveal-failures-in-process-of-detecting-pancreatic-cancer/1162945/ )