Pancreatic Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pancreatic Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Imaging findings of leukemic involvement of the pancreaticobiliary system in adults.

Choi EK, Byun JH, Lee SJ, Jung SE, Park MS, Park SH, Lee MG

Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 388-1 Pungnap-2dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to review the imaging findings of patients with leukemic involvement of the pancreaticobiliary system in adults. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic myeloid and lymphoid leukemia show single or multiple mass lesions of homogeneous low attenuation and poor contrast enhancement on CT that is radiographically indistinguishable from that of pancreatic lymphoma. Although more cases are needed for confirmation, leukemic infiltration of the biliary tract is characterized by wall thickening of the bile duct with minimal contrast enhancement--a feature that may be helpful in differentiating it from infiltrating hilar or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Published 22 May 2007 in AJR Am J Roentgenol, 188(6): 1589-95.
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