Percutaneous transhepatic portography in pancreatic carcinoma. Diagnosis and evaluation of resectability.

In 33 patients with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas, both angiography and percutaneous transhepatic portography combined with selective phlebography of the pancreatic veins were performed. The tumour diagnosis was made in 28 patients by angiography and in 21 by phlebography. Correlation was found between extrapancreatic artery encasement, involvement of the main stems of the portal vein system and non-resectability of the tumour. In 5 patients venous involvement demonstrated by portography was the only indication of non-resectability of the tumours.