3DFT-FLASH MR imaging of pancreatic cancer with gadopentetate dimeglumine

We evaluated the usefulness of dynamic 3-dimensional Fourier transformation (3DFT) fast low angle shot (FLASH) MR imaging using gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) to assess the extent of pancreatic cancer. Breath-hold 3DFT-FLASH MR images (20/4; 25 flip angle; 7 partitions; 3-5 mm slice thickness) were obtained before the administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA, just after (early phase), and 1 and 2 min (late phases) after in 14 patients with pancreatic cancer. All patients underwent surgical removal or laparotomy. We compared the findings of T1-, T2-, and postcontrast T1-weighted spin-echo (conventional SE) and 3DFT-FLASH imaging with histologic or surgical findings. Dynamic MR images could delineate the pancreatic tumors more clearly than the conventional SE images, and were useful for diagnosing vessel invasion. The contrast-to-noise ratio between the pancreatic cancer and the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma was significantly higher with the dynamic 3DFT-FLASH image than with the conventional SE images (p<0.01). Dynamic 3DFT-FLASH MR imaging with Gd-DTPA is useful in delineating and evaluating the extent of pancreatic cancer. (orig.)