Evaluation of the pancreas by MRI

Using T1-, P- and T2-weighted images of the upper abdomen obtained on 1.5 T MRI system, 18 items on the pancreas were evaluated in 89 controls. The items included pancreas sizes on T1-weighted image. pancreatic intensity compared with those of renal cortex, subcutaneous fat tissue, liver and spleen, obliteration of pancreas margin, and diameter of pancreatic duct on all images. Normal criteria, which were determined from data in the controls, were applied to images in the 40 patients with pancreatic or peripancreaticdiseases. All 4 patients with an extra-pancrcatic tumor had no abnormality of pancreatic intensity. pancreatic margin, and pancreatic duct on T2-weighted image, except for pancreatic sizes and intensities at tumor sites. In contrast. 34 of 36 patients with pancreatic disease had abnormalities which pathologically depended on acute and/or chronic pancreatitis.