Late contrast-enhanced CT for small pancreatic carcinoma: delayed enhanced area on CT with histopathological correlation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the appearance of pancreatic adenocarcinoma on delayed contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) and verify the diagnostic significance.


METHODS
Twenty-two surgically resected lesions of pancreatic adenocarcinoma were studied with dynamic CT and findings were compared with those on histopathology.


RESULTS
Ten (45%) of 22 pancreatic adenocarcinoma demonstrated masses on unenhanced CT, while 21 (95%) demonstrated on early contrast-enhanced CT (early CT), and 15 (68%) demonstrated masses on delayed contrast-enhanced CT (late CT). Pancreatic mass was demonstrated as a low-density area on unenhanced and early CT, but mass density varied on late CT. Delayed enhancement of the mass was predominantly observed in small lesions; 3 (75%) of 4 lesions 2 cm or smaller were detected as high-density areas. Histologically, delayed enhanced lesions showed severe or moderate degrees of fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Late CT is useful for the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with fibrosis as a high-density area, especially in small lesions.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
H
H
Furukawa
K
K
Takayasu
K
K
Mukai
Y
Y
Kanai
K
K
Inoue
T
T
Kosuge
K
K
Ushio
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods