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Findings: CT scan shows a tumor mass in the uncinate process of the pancreas. The mass is soft tissue density and is blunting the medial margin of the uncinate portion. Note the loss of the fat plane around the superior mesenteric artery. Numerous vascular collaterals are noted.
Diagnosis: Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas
Discussion:Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is the fourth most common cancer. The prognosis of the disease is poor and very few patients survive longer than one year. Because the outcome is so poor a major role of imaging once the primary diagnosis has been made is to "stage" the disease to determine operability. The loss of the fat plane indicates encasement of the artery making the patient uncurable. Operative palliation may be indicated in some cases. The presence of collateral vessels also infers occlusion of the venous structures.
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