Abdominal ultrasonography of the pancreas: from screening to diagnostic workup

Abstract

Pancreatic diseases, including pancreatic cancer, remain difficult to diagnose at an early stage and are still associated with a poor prognosis. In recent years, high-risk groups for pancreatic cancer have been increasingly defined, highlighting the growing importance of targeted screening strategies. Among available modalities, transabdominal ultrasonography is highly valuable because it is noninvasive, easy to perform, and suitable for repeated examinations. It plays a particularly important role in detecting pancreatic abnormalities in routine health checkups and gastrointestinal cancer screening programs.

In this article, we provide an overview of the diagnostic pathway from screening to detailed evaluation of pancreatic diseases—focusing primarily on pancreatic cancer—using transabdominal ultrasonography, and we discuss its utility and limitations in light of the latest evidence.