Cs. Ng et al., Metastases to the pancreas from renal cell carcinoma: Findings on three-phase contrast-enhanced helical CT, AM J ROENTG, 172(6), 1999, pp. 1555-1559
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to define the lesion enhancement characteristics of
renal cell carcinoma metastases to the pancreas using three-phase helical
CT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. Thin-section three-phase contrast-enhanced CT scans
of nine patients with renal cell carcinoma metastases to the pancreas were
evaluated. The helical CT protocol included 3-mm collimation and a 2:1 pitc
h. Scans through the pancreas were obtained in three series beginning 25; 6
0, and 120 sec after the start of administration of IV contrast material de
livered at 3 ml/sec. The Hounsfield densities of the pancreatic lesions and
normal pancreatic parenchyma during each of the enhancement phases were re
corded and compared.
RESULTS. The enhancement patterns of the metastatic deposits and the normal
pancreas differed. Thirty-four lesions ranging in size from 6 to 110 mm we
re identified. All metastases showed rapid enhancement during the early (ar
terial and portal) phases, resulting in differential attenuations (compared
with normal pancreatic parenchyma) of approximately 50-100 H, The differen
tial attenuations were approximately 5-45 H on delayed-phase scans, resulti
ng in poorer conspicuity of the lesions. Multifocal metastases were clearly
identified on the early-phase scans in seven patients.
CONCLUSION. Renal cell carcinoma metastases to the pancreas enhance most co
nspicuously during the early phases of helical CT. Such metastases may fail
to be appreciated in the delayed phase. In patients with suspected renal c
ell carcinoma metastases to the pancreas, early-phase scanning after IV con
trast administration should be performed.