[Spiral CT of the pancreas. A clinical comparison with conventional CT and dynamic CT].

PURPOSE

Spiral CT is compared with the dynamic CT and the conventional CT with regard to the enhancement of the pancreas and peripancreatic vessels and the visualisation of anatomic details.

METHODS

In 15 patients spiral CT of the pancreatic region was performed in the arterial phase followed by spiral CT of the upper abdomen in the arterial-venous phase. In 30 patients dynamic CT (n = 15) and spiral CT (n = 15) of the pancreatic region was performed in the arterial phase followed by conventional CT of the upper abdomen.

RESULTS

Compared with dynamic CT, spiral CT of the pancreatic region in the arterial phase (flow 4 ml/s, delay 15-18 s) leads to a stronger contrast of the peripancreatic vessels (p < 0.001) and the pancreas (108 vs. 86 HU) (p < 0.05). In the following spiral CT of the upper abdomen (flow 1 ml/s, delay 70 s), a high enhancement of both arteries and veins could be achieved. Intrapancreatic structures and peripancreatic vessels were better seen in the spiral CT than in the conventional CT (p < 0.05) and p < 0.005, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The combination of spiral CT of the pancreatic region in the arterial perfusion phase and spiral CT of the upper abdomen in the arterial-venous phase enables an optimal enhancement of the pancreas and the abdominal vessels and a reliable visualisation of anatomic details.