Table 3:

Comparison of imaging modalities

Modality	Region of Interest	Resolution	Ionizing Radiation	Advantages	Disadvantages
Pancreatic protocol CT	Whole abdomen	Millimeter	Yes	• Easily accessible  • Relatively cheap  • High spatial resolution for detection of small detections and local staging  • Detection of distant metastatic disease	• Small masses can be occult on CT  • Concerns with radiation safety limit its potential use as screening modality  • Contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency or contrast allergy
MRI/MRCP	Whole abdomen	Millimeter	No	• Accurate detection of pancreatic cysts and suspicious features  • Accurate detection of pancreatic duct abnormality  • Can detect pancreatic masses that are occult on CT  • Can be performed without contrast for patients with renal insufficiency or contrast allergy	• Less accessible and more expensive than CT  • More operator dependent than CT
Endoscopic ultrasound	Pancreas and adjacent organs only	Millimeter	No	• Accurate characterization of pancreatic mass and pancreatic duct abnormality  • Obtain fine needle aspiration for tissue diagnosis	• Invasive procedure  • Rare procedural complications  • Limited assessment of disease extent outside pancreas

CT= Computed tomography, MRCP=magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, MRI= magnetic resonance imaging, US= ultrasound