Pancreatic adenocarcinoma: detection and staging with dynamic MR imaging

Objective: To compare the efficacy of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and spin-echo T1-weighted with and without fat-saturated MR imaging in the detection and staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods and material: S pin-echo T1-weighted, fat-saturated T1-weighted and dynamic breath-hold 2D- FLASH MR imaging were performed in 25 patients with pancreatic adenocarcino ma. MR images were analysed by calculating the CNR between tumor and normal portion of the pancreas. The CNRs calculated at each sequences were compar ed. A total of 16 out of 25 patients underwent surgery. Preoperative stagin g according to TNM classification was also done in patients undergoing surg ery. Results: The CNR was significantly different (P < 0.05) in the arteria l phase of dynamic MR images. The accuracy of 'T' staging was 75% for SE T1 -W, fat-saturated T1-W and arterial phase of dynamic MR images. Conclusion: The CNRs between pancreatic carcinoma and normal pancreas is significantly higher in dynamic MR sequences than the SE T1-W, fat-saturated T1-W sequen ces. However, the accuracy of tumor staging according to TNM is equivocal t o SE T1-W and fat-saturated T1-W images. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.