3DFT-flash MR imaging of pancreatic cancer with gadopentetate dimeglumine.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the usefulness of dynamic 3-dimensional Fourier transformation (3DFT) fast low angle shot (FLASH) MR imaging using gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) to assess the extent of pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
Breath-hold 3DFT-FLASH MR images (20/4; 25 degrees flip angle; 7 partitions; 3-5-mm slice thickness) were obtained before the ++administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA, just after (early phase), and 1 and 2 min (late phases) after in 14 patients with pancreatic cancer. All patients underwent surgical removal or laparotomy. We compared the findings of T1-, T2-, and postcontrast T1-weighted spin-echo (conventional SE) and 3DFT-FLASH imaging with histologic or surgical findings.


RESULTS
Dynamic MR images could delineate the pancreatic tumors more clearly than the conventional SE images, and were useful for diagnosing vessel invasion. The contrast-to-noise ratio between the pancreatic cancer and the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma was significantly higher with the dynamic 3DFT-FLASH image than with the conventional SE images (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic 3DFT-FLASH MR imaging with Gd-DTPA is useful in delineating and evaluating the extent of pancreatic cancer.
Murakami
T
T
Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Tsuda
K
K
Nakamura
H
H
Osuga
K
K
Tomoda
K
K
Hori
S
S
Miyata
M
M
Monden
M
M
Wakasa
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA