Table 2.

Imaging modalities characteristic for early detection and screening pancreatic cancer^{25,27,30,41,42,44}.

Imaging modalities	Diagnostic accuracy	Sensitivity	Specificity	Advantages	Limitations
TAUS	67.5%	75–89%	90%	Non-invasive, cost-effective, able for early detection of bile/pancreatic duct obstruction	Provide less information on PDAC diagnosis and staging, rely on patients’ conditions and operator technical skills
CT scan	89%	90%	87%	Less invasive, greater availability, cost-effective,	Radiation exposures, unable to detect iso-attenuating PDACs with indistinct borders and small pancreatic tumours, the use of contrast agents sometimes leads to allergic reactions for the patients.
MRI	90%	93%	89%	No radiation exposure, improved soft tissue resolution, better to determine the metastasis, increased accuracy for assessing local involvement of pancreatic lesion, precise result for diagnosis and staging PDACs	Costly, difficult to use in patients with claustrophobia, and implants like metal devices, inability to detect the small PDAC tumours
EUS	75%	72%	90%	Effective in detecting the indirect clinical features (MPD dilatation for instance) associated with CIS; help tissue acquisition (FNA; or fine-needle biopsy) for definitive diagnoses; highest sensitivity among all imaging modalities for detecting tiny pancreatic tumours	Harmful and invasive for the patient, Relying solely on the operator’s skills, difficulties in routine follow-up, and failure to assist in the evaluation of solid pancreatic tumours.

CIS, carcinoma in situ; CT, computed tomography; EUS, endoscopic ultrasound; FNA, fine-needle aspiration; MPD, main pancreatic duct; MRCP, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; TAUS, transabdominal ultrasound.