ERCP?  They still do a biopsy if it's reachable this way...
http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/DiagTests.php
During this procedure an X-ray is taken of the pancreatic duct and bile
ducts. These ducts drain secretions from the pancreas and liver
respectively. Obtaining such pictures requires that an endoscope be placed
in the mouth through the esophagus and stomach, then into the duodenum.

Procedure:
The patient is sedated and given potent pain relievers (opiate) after on
overnight fast. A local anesthetic is sprayed to the back of the throat.
Frequently, muscle relaxants are used to relax the duodenum and ampulla
(an anticholinergic drug, or glucagon, nitroglycerin). During the test
patients are monitored to ensure that they are not oversedated. The
monitoring includes a pulse oximeter (a probe fastened to the patient's
finger that measures blood oxygen concentration) and a heart rate monitor.
During the ERCP, the degree of sedation is much greater than that used for
an EGD, so often the patient is asleep.

Using a modified endoscope, the investigator visualizes the duodenum on a
monitor and finds the small opening where the bile duct and pancreatic
duct empty into the duodenum (the ampulla of Vater). A thin catheter is
passed through an opening in the endoscope and through the ampulla. Once
the catheter has been placed through the opening (cannulated), a dye is
injected into the pancreatic and bile ducts. This enables images of these
ducts to be obtained. X-rays are taken of the abdomen over the area of the
pancreas and are examined by the attending physicians on screen.

Despite the medication, occasionally the patient may feel discomfort and
may retch. If discomfort occurs additional pain relief is usually
provided. Symptoms arising from complications may also rarely occur.[end
copied textl

If you click on that web page, then ERCP, a new window opens and explains,
more of, everything.
J

I hope you got that webpage I posted, Waldo.
Many others have had the procedure without complication so I hope same for
you.
Keep in touch and let us know how it goes, please.
Best wishes,
J

CT guided needle biopsies are safe, and do not cause cancerous cells to
"bleed out".
If a suspected pancreatic cancer is blocking the bile duct, it is often
possible to get some cells for diagnosis by brushing the inside of the bile
duct with and endoscope - that's the test they are talking about - it's
called ercp. But it's usually only indicated if there is a bile duct
blockage.

Likely they're talking about ERCP as well as endoscopic ultrasound. If there
is an abnormality at the ampulla (where the duct enters the duodenum) they
can biopsy it directly. If not, they can do the endoscopic ultrasound and
localize the mass more accurately and biopsy it through the scope. The CT
guided biopsy is generally fine - won't seed cells - but the endoscopically
guided ultrasound is a more accurate means of getting the biospy.

HMc