A member asked:

Would an abdominal ultrasound, amalyse/lipase blood test, reveal pancreatic cancer or even hints it?

20 doctors weighed in across 4 answers
Dr. Alvin Lin answered

Ultrasound, maybe: Amylase & lipase are good tests for pancreatitis or inflammation of the organ. However, they're not really useful at screening for pancreatic cancer. Abdominal ultrasound is a reasonable first test if you're concerned about something going on in your stomach as there's no radiation involved. If there's an abnormal finding, then we can press further w/ct or mri. But no good screening tests exist.

Answered 3/4/2013

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Possibly: Imaging studies may show a mass or cyst in the pancreas -- which may represent a tumor or cancer. Amylase has several subtypes, so it would need to be specific to the pancreas -- but the findings are non-specific. In general, it is better to have a fine needle aspiration or core needle biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer of the pancreas.

Answered 8/25/2013

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Amylase and: Lipase commonly spill with inflammation of the pancreas, common causes are stones in the bile duct and alcohol excess, not pancca. The ca-19-9 blood test is not specific or sensative. Transabdomial u/s is costly, insensitive, and not a good screening tool. I don't like pancreas cancer either, but one cannot allow it to be a bogeyman.

Answered 11/2/2018

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Blood test no help: Ultrasound may point to the presence of mass that would need to investigated further to rule in or rule out cancer. The blood test you listed are not helpful in the diagnosis of cancer.

Answered 3/4/2013

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