HELICAL CT EVALUATION OF ARTERIAL INVASION IN PANCREATIC TUMORS - COMPARISON WITH ANGIOGRAPHY

Background: Although helical computed tomography (HCT) has been widely employed for the evaluation of pancreatic tumors, its capability in t he diagnosis of peripancreatic arterial invasion has not been establis hed. Methods: HCT with a sequential cine-display was carried out in 34 patients with solid pancreatic tumors and 28 control subjects without angiographic abnormality. The HCT scans were compared with angiograms . Results: All major arteries (celiac, superior mesenteric, splenic, g astroduodenal) and superoanterior pancreaticoduodenal arteries were we ll demonstrated by HCT in control subjects, However, posterior pancrea ticoduodenal arcades and other smaller arteries were poorly identified . Although 19 major arterial invasions were equally diagnosed by HCT a nd angiography in patients with pancreatic tumors, only 4 of 11 minor arterial invasions were correctly diagnosed by HCT. Conclusions: Altho ugh HCT has some limitations in the evaluation of minor peripancreatic arteries, it can provide enough information for making a decision abo ut conducting pancreatic surgery.