A pancreatic ultrasound (or ultrasound) uses sound waves to produce images of the pancreas. You may need this test if you have symptoms or risk factors for pancreatic disease. There are different types of diagnostic ultrasound techniques of the pancreas. Sometimes pancreatic ultrasound is used during interventional treatment of pancreatic disorders.

Reasons Providers Order Pancreatic Ultrasounds

Pancreatic ultrasound can be used to evaluate inflammation, abnormal growths or blockage of ducts affecting the pancreas.

Your doctors may order a pancreatic ultrasound if they are concerned that you may have:

Some symptoms that may indicate the need for a pancreatic ultrasound include:

• Abdominal distension (widening of the abdominal area)
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Constipation, diarrhea or other intestinal irregularities
• Fever
• Jaundice (yellow discoloration of eye and skin weight indicating high bilirubin levels)
• Nausea, vomiting
• Unexpected weight loss

Usually, pancreatic disease causes a combination of these symptoms rather than just one. Your health care providers will consider your symptoms, medical history and risk factors and perform a physical examination before deciding what imaging or other diagnostic tests to order for you.

If you have a pancreatic ultrasound, you will likely also have other diagnostic tests, which may include:

Other imaging tests you may also need as part of your evaluation include pancreatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liver imaging, or a colonoscopy because pancreatic disease is often associated with liver or colon disease.

Limitations of testing

A pancreatic ultrasound can help visualize signs of inflammation or tumors in the pancreas and can detect blockage of the pancreatic ducts.

However, the pancreas is an irregularly shaped organ and its location is difficult to access. Because of these structural and anatomical features, pancreatic abnormalities are sometimes not visible on a pancreatic ultrasound.

Normal or abnormal results

A pancreatic ultrasound can be used to look at certain changes in the pancreas that could indicate inflammation, infection, blockages, cysts, or cancer. However, while this test often helps identify problems, it cannot completely rule out pancreatic disease because it can be difficult to fully visualize the pancreas, even with a good quality ultrasound and careful evaluation of the images.

Some abnormal changes that might be noted during a pancreatic ultrasound include:

• Cysts (one or more)
• Fluid
• Growths, which could be a cancerous tumor
• Inflammation
• Obstruction of the pancreatic ducts

If you are having a pancreatic ultrasound, your treating doctor and a radiologist will need to carefully review your test images before evaluating your diagnosis. Usually the test itself does not provide a clear answer. Therefore, your medical team will review the images taking into account your overall health so they can interpret any abnormalities.

How the ultrasound preparation and process works

You may be asked to prepare in advance before your pancreatic ultrasound. Preparation may include restricting eating and drinking for a period of time. You may be asked to drink a special liquid in preparation for your test.

The day before the procedure

The specific instructions you receive before your pancreatic ultrasound will depend on whether you are having an abdominal pancreatic ultrasound or an endoscopic pancreatic ultrasound.

Usually, for an abdominal-pancreatic ultrasound, you will be able to continue your usual diet. For an endoscopic pancreatic ultrasound, you will need to fast without eating or drinking for approximately 12 hours before your procedure.

Fasting before an endoscopic test meets the following objectives:

• Having an empty stomach and intestines helps the provider get a better view of the organs in your digestive system during the test.
• Not having any food or drink in your stomach prevents you from vomiting when the endoscope is placed in your throat.

Day of procedure

On the day of your ultrasound, go to the facility where you will receive the test. If you are scheduled to have an invasive procedure, you will need someone to drive you to and from the test. If you are having a non-invasive procedure (like an abdominal ultrasound), you may be able to drive there and go home.

When you show up for your procedure, you will register or log in, provide your insurance information, and verify your identity (to make sure you are taking the correct test that has been ordered for you).

You will be guided to a patient changing area, where you will be given a gown to change into. You will be asked to place your clothing and personal items in a locker. Your healthcare providers may check your vital signs and ask you to sign a consent form before your test.

You can expect your procedure to last approximately 15 to 30 minutes if you are having an abdominal ultrasound. The procedure may take more than an hour if you are having an endoscopic ultrasound or therapeutic procedure.

Usually, for an invasive procedure, you can expect to receive medications to reduce discomfort. The medicine may make you sleepy. This medication may take several hours to take effect and you may need to rest at home after your procedure.

After an invasive procedure or if you receive pain medication, you will be monitored for a short time to ensure that you are alert and recovering and to watch for side effects, such as bleeding, before you go home.

If you begin to experience discomfort, pain, coughing up blood, nausea, or vomiting, contact your doctor about your symptoms.

Follow up

An abdominal ultrasound should not cause any post-test symptoms or side effects. Until you get a diagnosis and begin treatment, you will likely continue to have the same symptoms as before your test: these are the symptoms you are being evaluated for.

If you have had an endoscopic ultrasound, you may have a sore throat for a few hours or even days after your procedure. You may also feel some abdominal discomfort.

If you have had a needle insertion or surgical incision as part of treatment, you will need to follow the wound care instructions and follow up with your doctor to have the incision checked.

You may also expect to start treatment for a pancreatic condition, such as pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.

More tests with abnormal ultrasound

Depending on the results of your pancreatic ultrasound, you may need additional diagnostic tests. Additional tests may include other imaging tests to evaluate your liver, stomach, colon, or other abdominal structures.

In some cases, you may need to have a biopsy. This is an invasive diagnostic procedure in which your provider surgically removes a small sample for analysis under a microscope. If the result of your pancreatic ultrasound raises a concern, for example if you might have cancer affecting the liver or colon, you may need a liver or colon biopsy.

Summary

A pancreatic ultrasound can be a useful diagnostic tool if you have signs or symptoms of a disease that may affect your pancreas or if you have risk factors for pancreatic disease. A pancreatic ultrasound can be performed as a non-invasive procedure or as an invasive procedure.

Your healthcare team will work with you to decide which one is best. Depending on the results of your pancreatic ultrasound, your next steps for testing and treatment will follow.