How is pancreatic cancer assessed?
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The above tests may be sufficient to assess the extent of the cancer. In some cases, further tests may be needed to assess if the cancer has spread. For example, a CT scan, MRI scan, or other tests. (There are separate leaflets which describe each of these tests in more detail.) This assessment is called 'staging' of the cancer. The aim of staging is to find out:
- How much the cancer in the pancreas has grown, and whether it has grown to the edge, or through the outer part of the pancreas.
- Whether the cancer has spread to local lymph nodes.
- Whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body (metastasised).
By finding out the stage of the cancer it helps doctors to advise on the best treatment options. It also gives a reasonable indication of outlook (prognosis). See the following information called 'Cancer Staging and Grading' for details.
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