Pancreatic Lesions Misdiagnosed as Adenocarcinoma Due to Imaging Findings
Atanas Dimitrov Hilendarov, Lyubomir Georgiev Chervenkov
Purpose: To present imaging investigation of neoplastic, inflammatory and benign pancreatic lesions as
well as non-pancreatic processes that can simulate pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Materials and methods: One hundred and forty five patients were examined by CT investigation in
purpose to present pancreatic lesions witch previously suspected on other diagnostic methods of imaging.
Results and discussions: Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (ACP) is one of the most aggressive
malignances - leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Western world. Focal fatty infiltration is
usually most pronounced in the head of the pancreas and at contrast enhancement in CT usually appears
as a region with reduced contrast material compared to normal pancreatic tissue simulating PA. Imaging
of a hypoattenuating lesion in the head of the pancreas corresponds to adenocarcinoma in most cases.
Conclusion: However radiologists should be careful, because a false positive diagnosis can lead to
unnecessary surgery, which is not without complications.
