T2-WEIGHTED AND DYNAMIC ENHANCED MRI IN ACUTE-PANCREATITIS - COMPARISON WITH CONTRAST-ENHANCED CT

The purpose of this study was to compare T2-weighted and dynamic contr ast enhanced MRI with contrast enhanced CT in patients with severe acu te pancreatitis, Thirty-two patients were examined using axial T2-weig hted spin-echo imaging (TR 1801, TE 15/90) and a multi-slice rapid gra dient-echo sequence (TR 135, TE 4, FA 80 degrees) (FLASH) in axial and coronal planes, Fifteen 5 mm axial slices at 10 mm intervals were acq uired during a single breath-hold of 19 s before, and at 10 and 40 s a fter a bolus injection of Gd-DTPA, Additional FLASH images in the coro nal plane mere obtained 2 min after injection of contrast medium, MR w as compared with contemporary enhanced CT by two blinded observers who scored pancreatic viability and the content of intra and extra-pancre atic fluid collections, The presence of gas, calcification and haemorr hage was noted, Abnormalities in adjacent organs, evidence of vascular occlusion and indicators of aetiology were also recorded, MR and CT w ere concordant in distinguishing viable pancreatic tissue from areas o f necrosis, MR appeared to be more effective than CT in characterizing the content of fluid collections and in demonstrating gall stones, al though CT remains superior in detecting Recks of gas and calcification , MR carries some advantages over CT and can be regarded as an alterna tive primary technique in patients with severe pancreatitis.