Quick answer
A pancreatic mass, a dilated Wirsung duct or a dilated common bile duct found on imaging do not automatically mean cancer, but require a rapid specialist opinion to determine their origin. The Cochin AP-HP pancreas fast-track can be reached on 01 58 41 19 46.
🚨 Pancreas fast-track: rapid diagnosis
Cochin Hospital offers multidisciplinary expertise for the rapid diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. If you have, or if your doctor identifies in you, clinical, radiological or biological signs suggesting a pancreatic lesion, a dedicated pathway allows you to be quickly referred to our specialists, without going through the usual consultation waiting times.
This pathway is intended for patients and for doctors referring a patient. Source: Department of Digestive, Hepatobiliary and Endocrine Surgery at Cochin.
⚠️ Which signs should raise concern?
Certain signs, alone or in combination, may suggest pancreatic disease and warrant a rapid opinion:
- Jaundice: yellow colouring of the skin and the whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools
- Upper abdominal or back pain, often at night, resistant to usual painkillers
- Unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite
- Recent-onset diabetes in a person without the usual risk factors
- Incidental discovery of a pancreatic lesion or of bile duct dilatation on imaging performed for another reason
These signs do not systematically mean cancer, but warrant a rapid medical opinion for an appropriate work-up.
🔍 Does your CT or MRI report mention any of these terms?
Certain wordings in a radiology report, even isolated and without any other abnormality, warrant a rapid specialist opinion for a complete pancreatic and biliary work-up:
These findings, whether isolated or associated with other signs, do not automatically mean cancer - they may have benign causes. But they systematically require a rapid specialist opinion to determine the exact cause and, if needed, complete the work-up (MRI with biliopancreatic sequences, endoscopic ultrasound, laboratory tests). → Understand these terms in detail
📖 The role of interventional radiology
The management of pancreatic cancer relies above all on digestive surgery and medical oncology. Our Interventional Radiology department supports the care pathway at three key moments:
- Diagnosis: percutaneous biopsy guided by CT or ultrasound to confirm the nature of the lesion, as a day case or short hospital stay
- Relief of jaundice: percutaneous biliary drainage when the bile ducts are obstructed by the tumour (jaundice), when endoscopic drainage is not possible
- Pain management: coeliac plexus neurolysis, which durably interrupts the transmission of pancreatic pain, in addition to medical analgesic treatment
For the diagnosis, surgery and oncological treatment of pancreatic cancer, our colleagues in the partner departments are your reference contacts:
🔪 Digestive, Hepatobiliary and Endocrine Surgery
Department specialising in surgery of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts, in particular for cancerous tumours. Robotic surgery activity.
→ chir-digestive-cochin.com📞 01 58 41 30 38
🔬 Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Digestive Oncology
Endoscopic examination of the pancreas and bile ducts, digestive oncology. The Cochin endoscopy unit is one of the most active in AP-HP.
→ gastrocochin.com📞 Day hospital: 01 58 41 19 85
⚡ Our procedures at a glance
| Procedure | Indication |
|---|---|
| Percutaneous biopsy | Diagnostic confirmation before treatment, under local anaesthesia |
| Percutaneous biliary drainage | Bile duct obstruction by the tumour, jaundice |
| Coeliac plexus neurolysis | Pancreatic pain resistant to medical treatment |
| Coverage | Covered by French national health insurance at Cochin AP-HP: no extra fees |
📚 Key publications
Sindayigaya R, Barat M, Tzedakis S, Dautry R, Dohan A, et al. Diagn Interv Imaging 2023;104:455-464.
Barat M, Chassagnon G, Dohan A, Gaujoux S, Coriat R, Hoeffel C, et al. Diagn Interv Imaging.
Barat M, Greffier J, Si-Mohamed S, Dohan A, Pellat A, Frandon J, Calame P, Soyer P. Can Assoc Radiol J 2025.
Alkatheeri M, Barat M, Moyne T, Pellat A, Dohan A, et al. Can Assoc Radiol J 2026.
Da Silva D, Moyne T, De Ponthaud C, Marchese U, Barat M, Dautry R, et al. J Gastrointest Surg 2025;29(7):102078.
Homps M, Soyer P, Coriat R, Dermine S, Pellat A, Dohan A, Barat M, et al. Eur J Endocrinol 2023;189(4):476-484.
Barral M, Faraoun SA, Fishman EK, Dohan A, Pozzessere C, Berthelin MA, Bazeries P, Barat M, Hoeffel C, Soyer P. Diagn Interv Imaging 2016;97(12):1259-1273.
Barat M, Dohan A, Gaujoux S, Hoeffel C, Jornet D, Oudjit A, Coriat R, Barret M, Terris B, Soyer P. Diagn Interv Imaging 2020;101(9):565-575.
Aldhaheri R, Barat M, Dohan A, Gaujoux S, Coriat R, Terris B, Soyer P. Diagn Interv Imaging 2020;101(12):839-841.
Nguyen TTL, Barat M, Marchese U. Diagn Interv Imaging 2026.
Camus B, Pellat A, Rouquette A, Marchese U, Dohan A, Belle A, et al. Cancers (Basel) 2023;15.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What does interventional radiology do in pancreatic cancer? +
My CT or MRI shows a pancreatic mass or a dilated Wirsung duct: what should I do? +
Is there a fast-track for a suspected pancreatic lesion? +
Can the pain of pancreatic cancer be treated without surgery? +
Whom should I contact if a pancreatic lesion is suspected? +
🔗 See also
✓ Why this page is trustworthy
Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.