Three-phase CT examination of the pancreatobiliary region using multislice CT with 1-mm collimation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the degree of contrast enhancement and accuracy of imaging of the circulatory phase in the first-pass, second-pass, and third-pass acquisitions in the pancreato-biliary region with 1-mm collimation obtained by multislice computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
In 53 patients, two sequential acquisitions from the porta hepatis to the pancreas were performed during a single breath-hold, followed by a third-pass acquisition including the liver beginning 15 sec after the second-pass acquisition. Contrast enhancement in each acquisition was measured in the aorta, portal vein and its branches, and pancreas. Four experienced radiologists graded using four-point scoring whether or not each acquisition was appropriate for imaging of the arterial phase, pancreatic phase, and portal venous phase.


RESULTS
Aortic enhancement was highest at the beginning of the second-pass acquisition. The portal and splenic veins and pancreas showed maximum enhancement in the second-pass acquisition, while the superior mesenteric vein showed maximum enhancement in the third-pass acquisition. In the visual assessment, significantly higher grades were achieved in the first-pass, second-pass, and third-pass acquisitions with regard to imaging of the arterial phase, pancreatic phase, and portal venous phase, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Multislice CT permits the acquisition of three distinct circulatory phases (arterial, pancreatic, and portal venous phases) in the pancreatobiliary region with 1-mm collimation.
Itoh
Shigeki
S
Department of Technical Radiology, Nagoya University School of Health Sciences, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
Suzuki
Koujiro
K
Iwano
Shingo
S
Satake
Hiroko
H
Ota
Toyohiro
T
Ikeda
Mitsuru
M
Ishigaki
Takeo
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001027:Aortography; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*