Assessment of endoscopic aspiration cytology and endoscopic retrograde cholangi-pancreatography (ERCP) in patients with cancer of the pancreas. Part I.

This report is concerned with studies on duodenofiberscopic examinations with aspiration cytology endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in 44 patients with cancer of the pancreas. Aspiration cytology alone was diagnostic in 91% of cancer of the head of the pancreas, 55% of cancer the body and tail of the pancreas and 100% of cancer of the whole pancreas. ERCP alone was diagnostic in 59% of cancer of the head of the pancreas, 75% of cancer of the body and tail of the pancreas and 100% of cancer of the whole pancreas. By combining these two approach a diagnostic result was obtained in 95% of cancer of the head of the pancreas and 90% of cancer of body and tail of the pancreas. It is concluded that the combined diagnostic approach has enhanced diagnostic accuracy of malignant lesions of the pancreas and that it has not yet led to an improvement resectability and mortality.