Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer

Endoscopic ultrasound, also referred to as EUS, refers to the diagnosis of the digestive system through the use of imaging studies. The thin structure of a tube tipped with a camera is called an endoscope. An ultrasound next to the endoscope transmits ultrasound waves and is capable of generating images of nearby tissues. Also, the ultrasound can visualize images of the pancreas.

It is the procedure that is meant to take a small specimen of tissue for microscopic examination in the laboratory. In the majority of cases, the doctor requests the sample from the patient during an endoscopic ultrasound examination. 

During the procedure of EUS, tissue from the pancreas is taken. Less frequently, a sample of pancreas tissue is taken from the human body by inserting a needle into the body via the skin and reaching the pancreas. It is carried out by using a thin needle to remove the suspicious materials.

The sample is sent to the lab to get tested to know the answer as to whether it is malignant or not. In addition, expert tests of the genes can reveal what DNA changes are involved in cancer. With the help of results, they come up with your treatment plan involved.

Blood tests of pancreatic cancer patients may identify proteins called tumour markers as they are produced by the pancreatic cancerous cells. CA19-9 just stands for one pancreatic cancer tumour marker test. 

Doctors use, to a lesser extent, this exam when you are undergoing or completing treatment to determine your reaction to the cancer. Certain cases of pancreatic cancers don’t create extra CA19-9, which implies that this test is not useful for everyone, although it is beneficial for many of the cases.

You can talk to your healthcare team about the importance of genetic testing. The genetics of cancer risk is identified through blood or saliva sampling for genetic testing.