Diagnostic value of multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) in assessment of vascular invasion and resectability of pancreatic head cancer

Introduction: pancreatic carcinoma is a common gastrointestinal malignancy. Accurate preoperative imaging helps to avoid unnecessary or unsuccessful surgical procedures and reduce the number of aborted pancreatic resections. MDCT is the most widely available and best validated tool for imaging patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Objective: to evaluate the diagnostic value of resectability and local staging of Pancreatic Head Cancer by MDCTA. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 patients referred to the Diagnostic Radiology and Medical Imaging Department at Tanta University Hospitals presenting with pancreatic head cancer. Results: Patients underwent exploratory laparoscopy or laparatomy with progression to a pancreaticoduodenectomy as deemed resectable in 7 (35%) patients, and 6 (30%) of patients underwent exploratory laparoscopy or laparatomy with progression to Gasterojejunostomy, 4 (20%) of patients underwent ERCP for biliary stenting and 3 (15 %) of patients were inoperable. In the studied patients, 15.4% of resectable by MDCTA found to be unresectable at laparoscopy exploratory with true positive was 100%. The MDCTA imaging sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 71%, NPV was 100% and PPV was 87% with accuracy of 90% to assess for resectability