Intraoperative ultrasound during surgical exploration in patients with pancreatic cancer with vascular involvement

Determining the resectability of pancreatic cancer with vascular involvement on preoperative CT imaging remains challenging, especially following preoperative chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) may provide real-time additional information. The prospective multicenter ULTRAPANC study in The Netherlands included patients undergoing surgical exploration for pancreatic cancer with vascular involvement. IOUS downstaged the resectability status in over one-third of the patients.