Pancreatic malignancy: effect of dual-phase helical CT in tumor detection and vascular opacification.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative value of hepatic arterial and portal venous phase helical computed tomographic (CT) scans for tumor detection and vascular opacification in patients with pancreatic malignancy.


METHODS
Ninety-five patients who had or were suspected of having pancreatic disease underwent dual-phase helical CT. Arterial phase scans were acquired 20-40 seconds after contrast material administration; venous phase scans, 70-100 seconds after administration. Three readers independently scored images in a blinded fashion for the presence of tumor, for lesion attenuation relative to normal pancreas, and for vascular opacification.


RESULTS
The final diagnosis was pancreatic malignancy (n = 60), acute or chronic pancreatitis (n = 22), and normal pancreas (n = 13). The readers identified possible or definite tumors on arterial phase studies in 47-50 patients and on venous phase studies in 48-53 patients (P > .10). There was no statistically significant difference in tumor attenuation between scans from the two phases (P > .05). Agreement between the readers for tumor detection was not affected by the scanning phase (P > .10). Opacification of arteries and of veins was greater on arterial phase scans and on venous phase scans, respectively (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The acquisition of arterial phase scans in addition to venous phase scans does not result in improved detection of pancreatic malignancies.
Keogan
M T
MT
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
McDermott
V G
VG
Paulson
E K
EK
Sheafor
D H
DH
Frederick
M G
MG
de Long
D M
DM
Nelson
R C
RC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media