Radiology, Vol 150, 153-162, Copyright © 1984 by Radiological Society of North America
Magnetic resonance and CT of the normal and diseased pancreas: a comparative study
DD Stark, AA Moss, HI Goldberg, PL Davis and MP Federle
Nineteen patients with proven pancreatic disease and 50 control subjects
were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) using a variety of spin echo and
inversion recovery techniques. The MR results were then compared with CT
scans. The normal pancreatic head, body, and tail were identified by MR in
approximately 60% of patients. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma and
retroperitoneal lymphoma were detected using morphologic criteria similar
to those used in CT. Differentiating bowel from pancreas was difficult on
MR in patients with little retroperitoneal fat, and tissue relaxation times
were usually not helpful in differentiating adenocarcinoma or lymphoma from
normal pancreatic tissue. However, MR intensity, T1, and T2 were useful in
differentiating pancreatic islet cell tumors from normal pancreatic tissue.
MR accurately identified retroperitoneal invasion, vascular involvement,
and liver metastases. In pancreatitis, tissue T1 and T2 relaxation times
were prolonged and complications such as ductal dilatation, pseudocyst,
phlegmon, and ascites were identified. Small pancreatic calcifications were
not detected by MR. Pancreatic iron overload was seen in patients with
hemochromatosis. Although respiratory motion and spatial resolution are
currently limiting factors, MR is a versatile and unique modality for the
evaluation of pancreatic disease.
