A Closer Look at the Pancreas
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, a great time to learn how this small organ supports your overall health and how imaging helps your care team understand what’s happening inside it.
The pancreas plays an important role in aiding digestion and regulating blood sugar levels. It is located deep in the upper abdomen, behind your stomach and in front of your spine, making it difficult to examine during your routine physical. If something is wrong, you may experience symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue, changes in bowel movements, or jaundice. These symptoms, along with a family history, may prompt your doctor to recommend further evaluation. Your doctor may also order imaging to follow up on abnormal bloodwork, take a closer look at a cyst found during another scan, or monitor a known condition over time. This is where advanced imaging at NY Imaging Specialists comes into play. With the pancreas tucked so far out of reach, imaging gives our radiologists a clear, detailed view of its size, shape, and texture, along with the ducts and blood vessels around it.
One of the most common imaging scans we perform on the pancreas is a CT scan. Prep for this scan can include fasting and an in-office IV to deliver dye that creates contrast in the final images. During the scan, you’ll be asked to lay down and hold your breath for a few seconds at a time while your technologist captures the images. These images are used to detect tumors, blockages, or conditions like pancreatitis. The CT captures thin, cross sectional images in a matter of seconds, which allows our radiologists to review the pancreas layer by layer and spot small changes with clarity and precision.
MRI scans are less commonly used to examine the pancreas, but your doctor may suggest an MRI to have a look at surrounding organs as well. You can expect a similar experience to a CT scan, with the main difference being that an MRI takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete. You’ll hear some sounds while the machine works, so our technologists will offer ear protection and check in with you throughout your scan.
Once your scan is complete, one of our radiologists reviews your images promptly. They are also available to answer your questions, and will send your results directly to your referring physician, so you and your doctor can talk through next steps sooner and move forward with confidence.
Getting a referral for pancreas imaging can feel daunting, but we’re here to walk you through every step with compassion and expertise. Imaging is the start towards finally gaining the answers you’ve been searching for, so, whether you’re in for a CT or an MRI, our team is committed to delivering you accurate results as soon as possible. From referral to outcome, at NY Imaging Specialists you are never on your own.