Molecular Diagnostics and Testing for Pancreatic Cysts

[Early detection of pancreatic cancer - The role of endoscopic and transabdominal ultrasound]

Pancreatic neoplasms are less common tumors and have a poor prognosis when advanced. Early diagnosis would be beneficial for survival, but screening of the whole population cannot be justified with a satisfying benefit-effort correlation. Subgroups of patients with a higher than average risk are those with germ-like mutations, familial cancers risks, and mucinous cystadenomas that would benefit from surveillance programs. Other risk groups, like patients with pancreatitis, new onset diabetes, and heavy smokers, should be considered as well. Transabdominal ultrasonography is of great advantage as a first-line imaging method because of its easy access. The accuracy for adenocarcinoma diagnosis is nearly 90% while using CEUS. Endosonography is of extraordinary importance in the diagnostic approach of pancreatic tumors because of high sensitivity and specificity while using advanced imaging techniques like CEUS, elastography, and fine needle biopsy. Screening by means of EUS is also possible in high-risk situations, and a favourable cost-benefit ratio must be shown by future data.