SMALL PANCREATIC ADENOCARCINOMAS - EFFICACY OF MR-IMAGING WITH FAT-SUPPRESSION AND GADOLINIUM ENHANCEMENT

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of fat-suppressed T1-weighted magneti c resonance (MR) imaging and dynamic MR imaging in the diagnosis of sm all pancreatic adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pancreatic aden ocarcinomas in 15 patients were evaluated with dynamic computed tomogr aphy (CT) and five MR imaging sequences that included fat-suppressed T 1-weighted technique and dynamic multiplanar gradient-recalled acquisi tion in the steady state technique. RESULTS: The difference in contras t-to-noise ratios between tumor and normal pancreas was significantly different (P < .05) between the five MR imaging sequences used. In six patients, the combination of dynamic MR imaging and fat-suppressed im aging was superior to dynamic CT in the detection of tumors. Tumors ac companied by chronic pancreatitis were less distinct on fat-suppressed images but were clearly visible on dynamic MR images. Peripancreatic extension of tumors was better recognized on T1-weighted images and CT scans than on fat-suppressed images. CONCLUSION: Fat-suppressed T1-we ighted images and dynamic MR images were useful in the detection of pa ncreatic carcinomas. T1-weighted images and CT scans were superior in the evaluation of tumor extension.