Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jan 15, 2025; 17(1): 99153
Published online Jan 15, 2025. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i1.99153
Retrospective analysis of pathological types and imaging features in pancreatic cancer: A comprehensive study
Yang-Gang Luo, Mei Wu, Hong-Guang Chen
Yang-Gang Luo, Mei Wu, Hong-Guang Chen, Pathology Department, Xuanhan County People’s Hospital, Dazhou 636150, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Luo YG and Wu M proposed the concept of this study, participated in the data collection, participated in this study, validated it, and jointly reviewed and edited the manuscript; Luo YG drafted the initial draft and guided the research, methodology, and visualization of the manuscript; Chen HG contributed to the formal analysis of this study. All authors critically reviewed and provided final approval of the manuscript; and all authors were responsible for the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Institutional review board statement: This study has been approved and reviewed by the Ethics Committee of Xuanhan County People’s Hospital, No. 2021-LL-092.
Informed consent statement: Due to the retrospective nature of the study, informed consent was waived.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: No available data.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yang-Gang Luo, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Imaging, Xuanhan County People’s Hospital, No. 579 Jiefang Middle Road, Dazhou 636150, Sichuan Province, China. lygxuanhan@163.com
Received: August 26, 2024
Revised: September 23, 2024
Accepted: October 15, 2024
Published online: January 15, 2025
Processing time: 108 Days and 1.4 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, with a poor prognosis often attributed to late diagnosis. Understanding the correlation between pathological type and imaging features is crucial for early detection and appropriate treatment planning.

AIM

To retrospectively analyze the relationship between different pathological types of pancreatic cancer and their corresponding imaging features.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 500 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between January 2010 and December 2020 at our institution. Pathological types were determined by histopathological examination of the surgical specimens or biopsy samples. The imaging features were assessed using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasound. Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant associations between pathological types and specific imaging characteristics.

RESULTS

There were 320 (64%) cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, 75 (15%) of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, 50 (10%) of neuroendocrine tumors, and 55 (11%) of other rare types. Distinct imaging features were identified in each pathological type. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma typically presents as a hypodense mass with poorly defined borders on computed tomography, whereas intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms present as characteristic cystic lesions with mural nodules. Neuroendocrine tumors often appear as hypervascular lesions in contrast-enhanced imaging. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between specific imaging features and pathological types (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated a strong association between the pathological types of pancreatic cancer and imaging features. These findings can enhance the accuracy of noninvasive diagnosis and guide personalized treatment approaches.

Keywords: Pancreatic cancer; Pathological types; Imaging features; Retrospective analysis; Diagnostic accuracy

Core Tip: Understanding the correlation between the pathological types of pancreatic cancer and their corresponding imaging features is crucial for early detection and treatment planning. Different types of pancreatic cancers exhibit distinct imaging characteristics, such as hypodense masses with poorly defined borders for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, cystic lesions with mural nodules for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, and hypervascular lesions for neuroendocrine tumors. Utilization of a combination of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasound can aid in an accurate diagnosis. This knowledge can significantly improve diagnostic accuracy, inform personalized treatment strategies, and potentially enhance outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.