Pancreatic diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI): comparison between mass-forming focal pancreatitis (FP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and normal pancreas.
OBJECTIVE
To compare diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of pancreatic cancer (PC), mass-forming focal pancreatitis (FP), and the normal pancreas.


METHODS
DWI (b = 0 and 600 seconds/mm(2)) findings of 14 patients with mass-forming FP proven by histopathology and or clinical follow-up, 10 patients with histopathologically-proven PC, and 14 subjects with normal pancreatic exocrine function and normal imaging findings were retrospectively evaluated. ADC values of the masses, the remaining pancreas, and the normal pancreas were measured.


RESULTS
On b = 600 seconds/mm(2) DWI, mass-forming FP was visually indistinguishable from the remaining pancreas whereas PC was hyperintense relative to the remaining pancreas. The mean ADC value of PC (1.46 +/- 0.18 mm(2)/second) was significantly lower than the remaining pancreas (2.11 +/- 0.32 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second; P < 0.0001), mass-forming FP (2.09 +/- 0.18 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second; P < 0.0001), and pancreatic gland in the control group (1.78 +/- 0.07 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second; P < 0.0005). There was no significant difference of ADC values between the mass-forming focal pancreatitis and the remaining pancreas (2.03 +/- 0.2 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second; P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Differences on DWI may help to differentiate PC, mass-forming FP, and normal pancreas from each other.
Fattahi
Rana
R
Department of Radiology, St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Balci
N Cem
NC
Perman
William H
WH
Hsueh
Eddy C
EC
Alkaade
Samer
S
Havlioglu
Necat
N
Burton
Frank R
FR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA