Abstract
The pancreas is a slender organ located behind the ribs or stomach filled with gas. As such, it is difficult to observe the entire pancreas with ultrasonography. The most important disease that must be detected during screening of asymptomatic people is pancreatic cancer. In order to detect curable pancreatic cancer without invasion to surrounding tissue, small and faint signs of pancreatic cancer must be detected. The following three conditions are key to successful screening. The first is to observe the broadest area of the pancreas using various postures such as head up, right side up or left side up with a high-frequency ultrasound probe, as well as the liquid-filled stomach method. The second is not to miss the direct or indirect signs of pancreatic cancer. The direct sign is a hypo- (or iso-) echoic area, and the indirect sign is main or branch pancreatic duct dilatation. The third is to detect pancreatic duct dilatation and/or pancreatic cysts as high-risk signs for pancreatic cancer. In the present manuscript, we describe the manner of ultrasound screening of the pancreas based on the Manual for Abdominal Ultrasound in Cancer Screening and Health Checkups.
