A prospective trial of the mass survey for pancreatic cancer using serum markers and ultrasonography

We designed a prospective trial of the mass survey for pancreatic disease, especially pancreatic cancer in consecutive 2576 subjects undergoing periodical health examination during 1989. In order to detect abnormality of the pancreas we measured serum amylase, elastase-1 and SPan-1 as serum markers and used ultrasonography(US). When abnormal elevation of serum markers or abnormal findings of US were obtained at the first screening, re-examination or further examination using ERCP, CT and endscopic US were performed. Frequencies of elevated amylase, elastase-1 or SPan-1 were 0.9%, 3.4% or 1.7%, respectively. However, no pancreatic diseases were detected among the cases of elevated serum markers after subsequent further examination. Frequency of abnormal US findings of pancreas were 2.3%(59/2576), including dilatation of main pancreatid duct, cystic lesion, space occupying lesion and calcification. Subsequent further examinations on subjects with abnormal US revealed 8 cases of pancreatic diseases including one small pancreatic cancer. US may be an efficient tool of mass survey for pancreatic cancer in the health examination at present.