MR-IMAGING OF PANCREATIC DISORDERS

Newer magnetic resonance imaging techniques offer greater precision in diagnosing various pancreatic disorders, primarily through faster ima ge acquisitions. These include breath-hold rapid T1-weighted images, f ast spin-echo sequences, and angiographic techniques. Altered signal i ntensity on fat-saturated T1-weighted images is one of the principal s igns of pancreatic disease, and may affect the gland diffusely with ch ronic pancreatitis or focally with carcinoma. T2-weighted sequences pr imarily characterize peripancreatic fluid, ductal obstruction, carcino ma, or cystic or mucinous tumors, Heavily T2-weighted cholangiographic reconstructions are important to evaluate ductal obstructions. Dynami c gadolinium-enhanced images improve the accuracy for identifying and characterizing islet-cell tumors and pancreatic adenocarcinomas.