Intraarterial Ultrasound in Pancreatic Cancer: Feasibility Study and Preliminary Results

Journal Article · Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S00270-010-9871-5· OSTI ID:21428944

Larena-Avellaneda, Axel ^[1]; Timm, Stephan ^[2]; Kickuth, Ralph; Kenn, Werner ^[3]; Steger, Ulrich; Jurowich, Christian; Germer, Christoph-Thomas ^[2]

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1. University Heart Center, Department of Vascular Medicine (Germany)
2. Medical School, University of Wuerzburg, Department of General, Abdominal, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery (Germany)
3. Medical School, University of Wuerzburg, Department of Radiology (Germany)

Despite technological advances in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, the involvement of the celiac or mesenteric artery in pancreatic cancer remains uncertain in many cases. Infiltration of these vessels is important in making decisions about therapy choices but often can only be definitively determined through laparotomy. Local (intraarterial) ultrasound may increase diagnostic accuracy. Using the Volcano intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) system, we applied a transfemoral method to scan the celiac and mesenteric arteries directly intraarterial. This technique was used in five patients with suspected pancreatic cancer. Technical success was achieved in all cases. In one case, a short dissection of the mesenteric artery occurred but could be managed interventionally. In tumors that did not contact with the vessels, IVUS was unable to display the tissue pathology. Our main interest was the infiltration of the arteries. In one case, infiltration was certain in the CT scan but uncertain in two patients. In the latter two cases, IVUS correctly predicted infiltration in one and freedom from tumor in the other case. In our preliminary study, IVUS correctly predicted arterial infiltration in all cases. IVUS did not provide new information when the tumor was far away from the vessel. Compared with IVUS in the portal vein, the information about the artery is more detailed, and the vessel approach is easier. These results encouraged us to design a prospective study to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of this method.

• OSTI ID: 21428944
• Journal Information: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Vol. 33, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1007/s00270-010-9871-5; Copyright (c) 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE); ISSN 0174-1551
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ARTERIES
CAT SCANNING
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
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PANCREAS
THERAPY
ULTRASONIC WAVES
VEINS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
MEDICINE
ORGANS
SOUND WAVES
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