Learning objectives
To illustrate the main features of pancreatic cystic lesions as seen on CT and MRI assessment.
Background
The prevalence of pancreatic cystic lesions has been estimated to range from 2.4% to 24% in imaging and autopsy studies.
Incidental pancreatic lesions are usually identified on a routine CT scan performed for other reasons.
Such lesions may be benign or may hide a malignant disease.
Accordingly,
although difficult and not always exhaustive,
an accurate imaging work-up is often needed in order to highlight features (fluid,
hemorrhage,
septa,
enhancing soft-tissue components) being important for addressing a diagnosis.
Imaging findings OR Procedure details
T1/ T2-weighted MR image,
MRCP reconstruction and MDCT scans are routinely used.
MRI has proved superior to CT in pseudocysts definition.
On the contrary,
MDCT seems sufficient while defining mucinous neoplasm showing enhancing mural nodules.
Serous cystic neoplasms showing T2 iperintensity and signal void due the calcifications may be equally studied by means of CT or MRI.
In the end,
secretin-enhanced MRI proved to be superior than MDCT while studying IPMNs,
originating both from main or secondary ducts.
Conclusion
MR imaging affords the best noninvasive means for the morphologic evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions.
The role of MDCT can be comparable and sometimes complementary to that of MRI.
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W....
Personal Information
Dr.
Riccardo Del Vescovo MD
Department of Radiology
University Campus Bio-Medico School of Medicine
Via Alvaro del Portillo 200,
00128 Rome
Cell.:+39-338-1111915
e-mail:
[email protected]