Quantitative MRCP assessment of pancreatic exocrine reserve and its correlation with faecal elastase-1 in patients with chronic pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study was done to correlate a quantitative assessment of the pancreatic exocrine reserve by dynamic secretin magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCPQ) with the faecal elastase-1 (FE-1) test in patients with chronic pancreatitis.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic (CP) or acute recurrent (ARP) pancreatitis were enrolled. FE-1 was indicative of the pancreatic exocrine reserve. Subsequently, the patient population was subdivided into two groups according to a clinical threshold value of 200 μg/g. All patients underwent MRCP examination during secretin administration. Duodenal filling volume was calculated on T2-weigthed rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) MRCP images obtained 10 min after secretin injection. Duodenal filling volumes were compared with FE-1 values. Scatter plots, Pearson correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test were performed.


RESULTS
Thirty-five paired MRCPQ-FE1 data sets were analysed. MRCPQ was significantly different (p=0.007) between patients with impaired and preserved pancreatic function; median and interquartile range (IQR) were 150.7 ml (137.3-205.5 ml; n=9) and 332.4 ml (190.6-506.9 ml; n=26). Both Pearson correlation coefficient (p<0.001) and the Mann-Whitney U test (p=0.007) were significant.


CONCLUSIONS
MRCPQ significantly correlates with FE-1 values. It is possible to discriminate impaired and preserved pancreatic exocrine function using MRCPQ.
Istituto di Radiologia, Università di Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 37134, Verona, Italy. rmanfredi@univr.it
R
R
Manfredi
S
S
Perandini
W
W
Mantovani
L
L
Frulloni
N
N
Faccioli
R
R
Pozzi Mucelli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D010186:Pancreatic Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012633:Secretin; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D012633:Secretin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase