Pancreatic carcinoma:CT findings and technique of multi-phase spiral CT

Objective:To study the protocols of multi-phase spiral CT for the evaluation of pancreatic carcinoma.Methods:Seventy five patients with pancreatic mass underwent multi-phase spiral CT. All were scanned in arterial, pancreatic and hepatic phase. All were confirmed by surgical and pathological findings:there are 53 cases with pancreatic carcinoma, and 22 cases with localized pancreatitis. Multi-phase spiral CT scanning after administration of contrast material were underwent in all the cases with pancreatic carcinoma or localized pancrtitis, which is confirmed by surgical and pathological findings. The CT findings of pancreatic carcinoma and localized pancreatitis were compared in three phase CT images.Results:There are 33 cases with pancreatic carcinoma in the head of pancreas, 4 cases in the neck of pancreas,14 cases in the body of pancreas,2 cases in the tail of pancreas. While 17 cases with localized pancreatitis in the head of pancreas, 2 cases in the neck of pancreas, 2 cases in the body of pancreas, 1 cases in the tail of pancreas. The helical CT appearances of 75 patients were as follows: in arterial phase, the lesion of pancreatic carcinoma appeared as hypointense (43/53) and isointense (10/53), while localized pancreatitis hypointense (2/22) and isointense (20/22). In pancreatic phase, the lesion of pancreatic carcinoma appeared as hypointense (51/53) and isointense (2/53) while localized pancreatitis hypointense (1/22) and isointense (21/22).In hepatic phase, the lesion of localized pancreatitis isointense (22/22).Conclusion:Multi-phase spiral CT scanning is valuable in detecting pancreatic carcinoma.