Pancreatic diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI): Comparison between mass-forming focal pancreatitis (FP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and normal pancreas

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 350 - 356
• Main Authors: Fattahi, Rana, Balci, N. Cem, Perman, William H., Hsueh, Eddy C., Alkaade, Samer, Havlioglu, Necat, Burton, Frank R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2009
• Subjects: ADC; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Contrast Media; Diagnosis, Differential; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; diffusion-weighted MRI; Female; focal pancreatitis; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Male; Middle Aged; normal pancreas; Pancreas - anatomy & histology; Pancreas - pathology; pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms - diagnosis; Pancreatitis - diagnosis; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.21651

Purpose To compare diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) findings and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of pancreatic cancer (PC), mass‐forming focal pancreatitis (FP), and the normal pancreas. Materials and Methods DWI (b = 0 and 600 seconds/mm2) findings of 14 patients with mass‐forming FP proven by histopathology and or clinical follow‐up, 10 patients with histopathologically‐proven PC, and 14 subjects with normal pancreatic exocrine function and normal imaging findings were retrospectively evaluated. ADC values of the masses, the remaining pancreas, and the normal pancreas were measured. Results On b = 600 seconds/mm2 DWI, mass‐forming FP was visually indistinguishable from the remaining pancreas whereas PC was hyperintense relative to the remaining pancreas. The mean ADC value of PC (1.46 ± 0.18 mm2/second) was significantly lower than the remaining pancreas (2.11 ± 0.32 × 10–3 mm2/second; P < 0.0001), mass‐forming FP (2.09 ± 0.18 × 10–3 mm2/second; P < 0.0001), and pancreatic gland in the control group (1.78 ± 0.07 × 10–3 mm2/second; P < 0.0005). There was no significant difference of ADC values between the mass‐forming focal pancreatitis and the remaining pancreas (2.03 ± 0.2 × 10–3 mm2/second; P > 0.05). Conclusion Differences on DWI may help to differentiate PC, mass‐forming FP, and normal pancreas from each other. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:350–356. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.