Related Experiment Video For early cancer detection
Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Pancreatic findings in participants in a program of low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer
Louis Gros1,2, Rowena Yip1, Yeqing Zhu1
1Department of Diagnostic, Molecular, and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Purpose:
This study investigates the frequency, progression, and clinical implications of pancreatic findings on chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans performed for lung cancer screening.
Methods:
Analyzing data from the I-ELCAP cohort study (February 2010-June 2023), we identified participants with pancreatic findings on LDCT scans, recording demographics and outcomes. Radiologists reviewed baseline and latest LDCT scans.
Results:
Out of 9467 participants, 90 (0.9%) had pancreatic findings, mostly male (54.4%), median age 64.7, with smoking (92.2%), alcohol use (41.1%), and diabetes (22%). Of these, 60 (66.7%) were detected on baseline LDCT, primarily as calcifications (73.3%), atrophy/fatty infiltration (18.3%), and duct dilatation (5%). Of the 90 participants, 27 underwent only baseline LDCT. Among the remaining 63, 33 had pancreatic findings on baseline scans, 27 of whom (81.8%) showed consistent findings on follow-up, and 30 developed pancreatic findings during surveillance. Rereview of the baseline scans showed that 68 participants (75.6%) had findings, including eight missed earlier. More cases of atrophy/fatty infiltration and other findings were detected compared to the original report, with calcifications remaining predominant (50 participants). Similar patterns were observed during the rereview of the latest LDCT scans. Two participants with detected lesions underwent biopsy, diagnosing a serous cystadenoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The latter succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
Conclusion:
Incidental pancreatic findings were uncommon (0.9%) and included calcifications, atrophy/fatty infiltration, cysts, ductal dilatation, and masses. These findings do not by themselves indicate pancreatic cancer but warrant documentation and, when suspicious, dedicated pancreatic imaging. Radiologist scrutiny could improve detection accuracy, indicating the potential of a LDCT lung cancer screening program for detecting and monitoring pancreatic lesions.
