Pancreatic scanning

The 75Se-selenomethionine pancreas scan cannot differentiate between chronic pancreatitis and carcinoma of the pancreas and may--although chiefly in certain defined clinical conditions--give a false-positive result. It is also rather more time-consuming than other radioisotopic scanning procedures. Its value in clinical practice stems from the fact that all the other methods currently available for studying the pancreas have their own disadvantages. Because a normal scan is only rarely seen in patients with carcinoma of the pancreas, pancreatic scanning can be particularly useful in helping to decide which patients should, and which should not, be subjected to other procedures involving greater discomfort or risk.