SPIRAL CT OF THE PANCREAS - THE VALUE OF SMALL FIELD-OF-VIEW TARGETEDRECONSTRUCTION

Purpose: To compare the value of a retrospective targeted high-resolut ion spiral CT to the standard reconstruction technique in the assessme nt of pancreatic diseases. Material and Methods: Spiral CT pancreatic images of a standard-size reconstruction protocol were compared prospe ctively with those of a retrospective targeted high-spatial-resolution reconstruction protocol in 30 patients. Prior to clinical evaluation, a phantom study was performed to evaluate the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of both protocols. Results: The high-resolution protocol achieved a good signal-to-noise ratio with acceptable spatial resolution. Phantom studies revealed increased image noise (+17%) wit h an increase in spatial resolution (+100%). In patients studied with the high-resolution protocol, the increase in noise was not significan t but there was a marked improvement in the definition of small detail s. Conclusion: Images obtained with a targeted high-spatial-resolution reconstruction protocol showed superior lesion definition and vascula r opacification compared with those obtained with a standard-size reco nstruction protocol. This technique may have potential in the evaluati on of small pancreatic abnormalities.