HIGH-RESOLUTION MRI OF PANCREATIC MASSES WITH A NEW CIRCULARLY-POLARIZED BODY PHASED-ARRAY COIL

A total of 18 patients with clinical suspicion of a pancreatic tumor u nderwent dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and MRI examinations. A fat-supp ressed T1-weighted 2D fast-low-angle-shot (FLASH) sequence and a T2-we ighted spin-echo (SE) sequence were applied in a transverse orientatio n using a circularly polarized (CP) body phased-array coil. The FLASH sequence was repeated after Gd-DTPA administration. The highest spatia l resolution was 1.37 x 1.37 x 3.00 mm(3). In two cases a half Fourier single-shot turbo-SE sequence (HASTE) was additionally applied. In a comparison between CT and MRI, pancreatic masses could be demonstrated and characterized with excellent image quality. The fat-saturated 2D FLASH sequence yielded the highest contrast-to-noise ratios after Gd-D TPA administration between pancreas and inflammatory or neoplastic les ion. One non-contour deforming carcinoma could be detected only with M RI and was only retrospectively visible on CT with an element of uncer tainty. Magnetic resonance imaging using a CP body phased-array coil a nd fat-suppressed T1- and T2-weighted FLASH, SE, and turbo-SE sequence s offers diagnostic possibilities in improved imaging of the pancreas.