A 66-year-old woman was admitted with diarrhea, weight loss, slight recurrent abdominal
pain, and raised serum amylase and lipase. Lactose intolerance was diagnosed, and
treatment was begun. The symptoms diminished. However, slight back pain and elevated
serum amylase and lipase levels persisted. A pancreatic tumor was then suspected.
Ultrasound, spiral computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) examinations were inconclusive.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed a slight narrowing of
the pancreatic duct within the pancreatic body, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) revealed
a 10 mm intrapancreatic lesion. Finally, intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) reliably
identified a small pancreatic tumor. The tumor was resected, and histology confirmed
a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in situ (UICC stage 0, TisN0M0). This case shows
that using high-resolution imaging techniques such as EUS plus IDUS, small malignant
pancreatic lesions can be detected at an early stage, when curative action is possible.
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H. Friess, M.D.
Dept. of General Surgery, University of Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 110 · 69120 Heidelberg · Germany
Fax: + 49-6221-56-6903
eMail: helmut_friess@med.uni-heidelberg.de