title: Pancreatic duct: MR cholangiopancreatography with a three-dimensional fast spin-echo technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of three-dimensional fast spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiopancreatography in the evaluation of the normal and abnormal pancreatic duct.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-breath-hold MR cholangiopancreatographic technique with use of a body coil was compared with direct pancreatography performed with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 37 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MR cholangiopancreatograms of satisfactory quality were obtained in 92% of patients. Sensitivity for detection of pancreatic duct dilatation (n = 15) was 100% and 87% (observers 1 and 2, respectively). Among patients with pancreatic duct strictures (n = 8), 75% of the strictures were detected; there was a single false-positive finding. Specificity for both observers was 69% for the maximum intensity projection reconstructions and increased to 81% with review of the source images. Four of six cases of pancreas divisum (67%) and two cases of pancreatic duct stones were demonstrated. Interobserver agreement was moderate to substantial, as assessed with kappa-analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR cholangiopancreatography can accurately demonstrate the normal pancreatic duct as well as various pancreatic duct abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston University Medical Center, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barish
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siegenberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chuttani
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
mesh_terms: D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010179:Pancreas / Q000002:abnormalities; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity