PANCREATIC ARTERIAL ANATOMY - DEPICTION WITH DUAL-PHASE HELICAL CT

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of arterial phase helical computed tomography (CT) for the depiction of small pancreatic arteries. MATERI ALS AND METHODS: Arterial phase helical CT (3-mm collimation, 1-mm rec onstruction interval) was performed during power injection of 180 mL o f ioversol at 5 mL/sec. Two radiologists reviewed 100 consecutive arte rial phase helical CT scans of the pancreas in patients with normal gl ands and recorded the frequency of visualization of the major visceral (celiac, hepatic, splenic, gastroduodenal, superior mesenteric) and s mall pancreatic (dorsal pancreatic, right branch of the dorsal pancrea tic, pancreaticomagna, caudal pancreatic, transverse pancreatic, anter ior and posterior arcade, and inferior pancreaticoduodenal) arteries. RESULTS: Scans in 87 patients were technically satisfactory and were i ncluded in the analysis. The major visceral arteries were seen in all patients. The following secondary pancreatic arteries were seen: dorsa l pancreatic, 82 (94%) patients; pancreaticomagna, 45 (52%); caudal pa ncreatic, 34 (39%); transverse pancreatic, 36 (41%); right branch of t he dorsal pancreatic, eight (9%); anterior arcade, 47 (54%); posterior arcade, 63 (73%); and inferior pancreaticoduodenal, 73 (84%). CONCLUS ION: Small pancreatic arteries can be delineated on arterial phase hel ical CT scans by using optimized techniques.