Utilization of Intravascular Ultrasound to Assess Vascular Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer Post Chemoradiation Therapy

Surgery continues to be the principal treatment for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer. Computer tomography (CT) is the primary modality used to assess the tumor and its involvement with neighboring vasculature to determine resectability. Regrettably, CT as well as many other non-invasive imaging modalities cannot continuously differentiate between vascular invasion and compression. Intravascular ultrasound represents a modality that can be used as an adjunct to delineate tumour vascular involvement. This case represents a first report of IVUS being used post chemoradiation therapy to determine a patient’s candidacy for resection.