The Role of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography in The Evaluation of Pancreatic Lesions

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

Aim of work: To determine the role of Multi-detector Computed Tomography in the evaluation of various pancreatic lesions.
Background:MDCT with its thin collimation allows three-dimensional reformatting and multiplanar reconstruction of pancreatic anatomy which permits good depictions of many pancreatic lesions.
Patients and Methods:30 patients with pancreatic lesions suspected on the basis of clinical symptoms, laboratory investigations and USS findings were enrolled in this study. Majority of patients (2 patients were fellow-up patients) were subjected to full clinical history, general and abdominal examination, Laboratory investigations, Ultrasonography examinations with (Siemens, Acuson.X300), and CT examinations; Triphasic contrast-enhanced and monophasic MDCT (with delay of 40-50s) performed on (Philips, Ingenuity core128-multislice CT) in the Zagazig university hospital.
Results:This study included 30 patients with suspected pancreatic lesions. They were 19 males (63.4%) and 11 females (34.6%). The most studied patients were above 50 years. 11 patients were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, one patient with acute on chronic pancreatitis, and 18 patients with pancreatic neoplasms. Hence, pancreatic neoplasms were found to be the most common pancreatic lesions in our study.
Conclusion:MDCT with contrast proved to be the imaging modality of choice in identification of various pancreatic lesions. The faster scanning time (with single breath hold) and thin slice thickness, allowed for better resolution and superior scan quality. The ability of MDCT to scan in both arterial and venous phases with its post processing techniques (MIP, MinP, CRP, and VR) allowed for excellent visualization of the pancreas, biliary anatomy and peripancreatic vasculature.

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