Quantitative secretin MRCP (MRCPQ): results in 215 patients with known or suspected pancreatic pathology

Eur Radiol. 2007 Nov;17(11):2984-90. doi: 10.1007/s00330-007-0708-9. Epub 2007 Jul 10.

Abstract

Secretin magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography quantification (MRCPQ) of pancreatic exocrine function correlates well with steatorrhoea and conventional, non-invasive function tests. We report MRCPQ results in a variety of pancreatic conditions. A total of 215 patients [107 male, mean age 46 years (14-78)] were studied. A multi-slice MRCP sequence was performed before and at 2-min intervals after 0.1 ml/kg IV secretin. Change in small intestinal water volume was plotted against time and the flow rate derived from the gradient. Patients were classified using clinical history, MRCP, MR imaging, computed tomography (CT) [150/215 (70%)] and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) [56/215 (26%)] findings but not MRCPQ results. Mean, standard deviation and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The one way ANOVA and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. Seventy-six patients had chronic pancreatitis, 26 were post-surgical, 34 post-acute pancreatitis, six atrophic pancreatopathy, eight with obstruction, 15 divisum, ten sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, 26 normal and 14 miscellaneous. Significant differences were observed between normals (mean+/-SD; 7.4 +/- 2.9 ml/min) and severe chronic pancreatitis (5.3 +/- 2.4) (P = 0.018), pancreatic atrophy (3.8 +/- 3.1) (P = 0.013) or duct obstruction (5.3 +/- 2.4) (P = 0.047)) and between moderate (7.0 +/- 3.0) (P = 0.03) and severe chronic pancreatitis. MRCPQ can be used to quantify function across the spectrum of pancreatic disease and showed significant differences between several different pathologies.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / instrumentation*
  • Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / methods*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical
  • Pancreatic Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Pancreatic Diseases / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Diseases / therapy
  • Pancreatitis / diagnosis*
  • Pancreatitis / pathology*
  • Pancreatitis / therapy
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Postoperative Period
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome