Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Different Pancreatic Lesions

Abstract
Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human cancers that requires early diagnosis. Ultrasound, CT and MRI are different imaging modalities used for diagnosis of pancreatic masses. Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Time-signal Intensity Curve (TIC) can add to the diagnosis of pancreatic masses.
Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of different pancreatic lesions.
Patients and Methods: Twenty-three patients were divided into 4 groups, group A (Acute Pancreatitis) (AP), group B (pancreatic cysts) which subdivided into malignant and benign cysts, group C (adenocarcinoma) and group D (Focal Pancre-atitis) (FP), all patients groups were compared to the control group. MRI protocol included MRI-c (T1WI, T1 Fat Suppres-sion (FS), T2WI, T2FS and IV dynamic contrast study) and DWI which performed on (1.5 Tesla) Magnet Unit General Electric (GE). TIC was obtained from the dynamic study and the results were divided into three patterns of curves.
Results: Control group demonstrated type-I TIC, group (A & D) demonstrated type-II and group C demonstrated type-III.
The mean Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values were significant lower (p<0.001) in (A & C) groups, statically different (p<0.02) between benign and malignant cysts. Stat-ically different (p<0.001) between control and patients' groups. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of DWI and MRI-c were 92.3%, 90%, 91.3%, 92.3%, 90% and 100%, 90%, 95.7%, 92.9%, 100%, respec-tively.
Conclusion: DWI and TIC were useful tools in diagnosis, characterization and differentiation between pancreatic lesions.