title: Assessment of exocrine pancreatic function by secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography and diffusion-weighted imaging in healthy controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize and quantify exocrine pancreatic function by secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (s-MRCP) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in healthy subjects and compare these findings to morphological features, ie, pancreatic volume and secretin-stimulated peak bicarbonate concentration measured in pancreatic juice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pancreatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (1.5 T) was performed in 20 healthy volunteers among which 10 underwent gastroscopy with duodenal intubation. MRI included T2-weighted imaging and DWI acquired before and 1, 5, 9, and 13 minutes after secretin administration. Secreted pancreatic juice volumes were calculated based on the sequential T2-weighted images and pancreatic volumes and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean pancreatic secretion rate declined from 9.5 mL/min at 1-5 minutes (postsecretin) to 2.9 mL/min at 9-13 minutes. Pancreatic head ADC values significantly increased from baseline (1.29 × 10(-3) mm(2) /s) to 1 minute postsecretin (1.48 × 10(-3) mm(2) /s) (P = 0.003). Secreted pancreatic juice volume at 1 minute after secretin correlated positively with peak bicarbonate concentration (n = 10, P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secretin-stimulated MRCP and DWI can characterize and quantify exocrine pancreatic function in healthy subjects. These imaging methods may prove relevant for patients with exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.
authors: Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Gaute K
authors: GK
authors: Wathle
authors: Erling
authors: E
authors: Tjora
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Ersland
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Dimcevski
authors: Øyvind O
authors: ØO
authors: Salvesen
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Molven
authors: Pål R
authors: PR
authors: Njølstad
authors: Ingfrid S
authors: IS
authors: Haldorsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012633:Secretin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D012633:Secretin
keywords: diffusion-weighted MRI; exocrine pancreatic function; pancreas; secretin-stimulated MRCP