MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF ENDOCRINE TUMORS OF THE PANCREAS

Seven patients who had functioning or non-functioning endocrine pancre atic tumours were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging. Combinat ions of fat suppressed T-1 weighted spin echo and gradient recalled ec ho (n = 7), T-2 weighted spin echo(n = 3) and gadolinium diethylamine triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) enhanced fat suppressed T-1 images were acquired. Magnetic resonance imaging detected five of seven tumo urs prospectively (three of which were smaller than 10 mm) and a furth er 10 mm tumour retrospectively. Tumours were low signal on T-1 weight ed images and showed enhancement after Gd-DTPA. On T-2 weighted images one tumour was hyperintense, and two were isointense with normal panc reas. Computed tomography, transabdominal ultrasound and angiography w ere performed in six patients but detected only one tumour each. Intra operative palpation and ultrasound detected all tumours. If pre-operat ive imaging is required magnetic resonance imaging is the technique of choice to detect small endocrine pancreatic rumours.