Abstract

Aim: To investigate the value of 3.0 T MRI in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic tumor.

Materials and Methods: Aggregate of 36 patients were enlisted with suspected or proven as solid pancreatic tumors were collected from the first affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Teaching Hospital during the period of January 2012 to August 2015, contained 20 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 7 cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs), 5 cases of pancreatic metastases, 4 cases of solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPTP). All the patients performed with plain scan and multiphasic contrast enhanced imaging on 3.0 T MR, 23 cases performed with MRCP. The data of clinic and imaging were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was irregular in shape, lesion was hypo intense in 10 cases, slightly hypo intense in 9 cases and isointense in one case on T1WI. 10 tumor showed slightly enhancement in arterial phase, and all of tumors showed moderate enhancement during portal and delayed phase; 19 cases showed double duct sign, and one case showed distal pancreatic duct dilation. Of the 7 cases with PNETs, the margin was well defined in six well differentiated lesions and ill-defined in one pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma; six tumors were marked enhancement in arterial phase and one tumor was moderate enhancement in pancreatic parenchyma in all of three phases. The mean diameter of SPTP was 5.2 cm. The solid part of tumors was hyperintense on T1WI and slightly hyper intense on T2WI, with progressively enhancement. 4 SPTPs had capsule which were hyperintense on T1WI and T2WI exhibited moderate enhancement. Of the 5 pancreatic metastases, one cases had only one lesion, two cases had multiple lesions and two cases showed diffuse pancreatic enlargement, one case showed heterogenous slightly enhancement, two case showed peripheral rim enhancement, two case showed marked enhancement in arterial, then wash-out in delayed and portal phases.

Conclusion: MRI is valuable for diagnosis and distinguishing solid pancreatic tumors.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Solid pancreatic tumors; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Neuroendocrine tumors; Metastases