| Theme |
Diagnostic Strategy of Pancreatic Carcinoma in Early Stage |
| Title |
Diagnosis of Early Pancreatic Cancer with MDCT and MRI |
| Author |
Shoichi Horita |
Department of Internal Medicine, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital |
| Author |
Takashi Meguro |
Department of Internal Medicine, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital |
| Author |
Hideaki Nakamura |
Department of Internal Medicine, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital |
| Author |
Michiaki Hirayama |
Department of Internal Medicine, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital |
| Author |
Ken Takabayashi |
Department of Radiology, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital |
| Author |
Kohei Harada |
Department of Radiology, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Recent advances in CT technology, particularly in multi-detector row scanners (MDCT), provide remarkable enhancement of both spatial and temporal resolution. This is due to improvements in scanning speed which now permit 1 - 2 mm thickness (thin section) imaging. Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer requires imaging the pancreatic parenchymal phase with optimal timing to obtain maximal tumor to pancreas contrast. MDCT enables three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction with low distortion, whereas curved planar reformation is particularly useful for the detection of small tumors. On the other hand, With magnetic resonance (MR) technology, MR cholangiopancreatography is highly sensitive and may be used for the detection of pancreatic abnormalities, thus it is useful as a screening tool. Surface rendered CT virtual endoscopy is useful in the detection of pancreatic tumors associated with the pancreatic duct, although this technology alone is not yet sufficient to diagnose early pancreatic cancer. For the diagnosis of minimal pancreatic cancer, utilization of both MDCT and MRI are thus be indispensable. |