If the symptoms raise the suspicion of pancreatic cancer, the first step in the diagnosis is obtaining a complete family and medical history. One should therefore be aware of cancers if any among the family members. It is also a good practice to carry your recent medical reports such as ultrasound, CT scan or other blood reports. The next step is a detailed physical examination.

1. Physical examination: The patient will rest on a couch while the doctor examines the skin, nail and eyes to look out for signs of hepatitis (jaundice). This would be followed by an abdominal examination to detect any abnormality such as an abnormal growth (tumor) or fluid collection in the abdomen (ascites).

2. Blood, urine, stool tests

3. Ultrasound:
When ultrasound waves travel through the human body, it is reflected by the organs present inside. The sound waves, which are thus reflected, can provide valuable information regarding the structure and function of human body. It provides a real-time visualization of the underlying abnormality. This information can then be permanently recorded on hard copy, film, videotape or both. It is usually the first choice as it is non-invasive and comparatively inexpensive.

  4. Endoscopic ultrasound:In this type of ultrasound, the doctor passes a thin, flexible instrument called an endoscope through the mouth to see the internal organs. One end of the instrument, which has a light source, is fitted with an ultrasound probe. As the instrument is introduced into the mouth to the stomach, images of the pancreas and other associated structures can be obtained.

5. CT scan:In this type of examination, a number of cross sectional images of the human body are obtained through the use of X-rays. Any abnormality such as pancreatic tumor can be easily detected.

6. Special X-ray examination:A special dye can be injected into the pancreatic/ bile ducts using appropriate techniques. The movement of the dye can be monitored using X-rays. Any abnormal pattern seen in the fluoroscopic examination can reveal the presence of tumor.

7. Biopsy:This procedure involves obtaining a small tissue sample from a section of the pancreas. The pathologist then examines this tissue under the microscope for presence of tumor.

Note:In some cases, additional tests other than those mentioned above may have to be done to assess the extent of the tumor and the severity of the disease. This would help the physician to plan further treatment.