The significance of the venous phase of celiac and superior mesenteric arteriography in evaluating pancreatic carcinoma.

Abstract

The angiograms of 50 patients with carcinoma of the pancreas were reviewed. Of 47 cases with adequate visualization of the splenic, portal, and superior mesenteric veins, 46 had definite venous involvement ranging from mild compression to complete occlusion with filling of numerous collaterals. In the 1 negative case there were neither arterial nor venous changes. The superior mesenteric or portal vein was usually affected when the tumor involved the pancreatic head; the splenic vein in tumors of the body and tail. Occlusion of multiple veins was frequent when the tumor extensively involved the pancreas