Histological influence on contrast-enhanced CT of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to examine the influence of the histology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma on its appearance with contrast-enhanced CT.


METHODS
Early-phase and late-phase dynamic CT images were obtained in 34 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenostomy. The attenuating areas of the tumors (n = 58) on early- and late-phase images were classified as hyperattenuated, isoattenuated, hypoattenuated, or unenhanced. The histologic findings of these lesions were compared to the CT appearances.


RESULTS
The isoattenuated areas on both early- and late-phase images histologically showed increasing cellularity of tumor cells (n = 1) or coexisting acinar tissues and tumor cells (n = 2) within the tumor. Hypoattenuated areas on early-phase images and isoattenuated or hyperattenuated areas on late-phase images (n = 27) showed dense fibrosis except in one tumor with an abscess. Hypoattenuated areas on early- and late-phase images and unenhanced areas (n = 28) showed mucin and/or necrosis within the tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
The contrast-enhanced CT appearance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is influenced by the histologic features associated with tumor cells.
Demachi
H
H
Department of Radiology, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan.
Matsui
O
O
Kobayashi
S
S
Akakura
Y
Y
Konishi
K
K
Tsuji
M
M
Miwa
A
A
Miyata
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed