title: Pancreaticobiliary duct changes of periampullary carcinomas: quantitative analysis at MR imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantitatively analyse the pancreaticobiliary duct changes of periampullary carcinomas with volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) and true fast imaging with steady-state precession (true FISP) sequence, and investigate the value of these findings in differentiation and preoperative evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 71 cases of periampullary carcinomas (34 cases of pancreatic head carcinoma, 16 cases of intrapancreatic bile duct carcinoma and 21 cases of ampullary carcinoma) confirmed histopathologically were analysed. The maximum diameter of the common bile duct (CBD) and main pancreatic duct (MPD), dilated pancreaticobiliary duct angle and the distance from the end of the proximal dilated pancreaticobiliary duct to the major papilla were measured. Analysis of variance and the Chi-squared test were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These findings showed significant differences among the three subtypes: the distance from the end of proximal dilated pancreaticobiliary duct to the major papilla and pancreaticobiliary duct angle. The distance and the pancreaticobiliary duct angle were least for ampullary carcinoma among the three subtypes. The percentage of dilated CBD was 94.1%, 93.8%, and 100% for pancreatic head carcinoma, intrapancreatic bile duct carcinoma and ampullary carcinoma, respectively. And that for the dilated MPD was 58.8%, 43.8%, and 42.9%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative analysis of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system can provide accurate and objective assessment of the pancreaticobiliary duct changes. Although benefit in differential diagnosis is limited, these findings are valuable in preoperative evaluation for both radical resection and palliative surgery.
authors: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China. victoryhope@163.com
authors: Dong Sheng
authors: DS
authors: Wu
authors: Wei Xia
authors: WX
authors: Chen
authors: Xiao Dong
authors: XD
authors: Wang
authors: Riwaz
authors: R
authors: Acharya
authors: Xing Hua
authors: XH
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity