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Radio-anatomic study of the pancreatic duct by MR cholangiopancreatography

  • Radiologic Anatomy
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Abstract

To compare the performance of MR-cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and that of classical anatomy in the depiction of the main pancreatic duct, 50 MRCP examinations were done in patients free of pancreatic disease. Axial and coronal sections 20 mm thick were obtained in a Single Shot Fast Spin Echo (SSFSE) sequence. The following were analyzed: (1) visibility of pancreatic duct structures, (2) form of the main pancreatic duct, (3) various angulations of the duct and (4) diameter of the duct. Anatomic variants were noted. These findings were compared with anatomic and radio-anatomic (ERCP) data in the literature. The main pancreatic duct was visualized in 100% of cases and the accessory pancreatic duct in 61%. The form, diameter and angulations of the various segments of the pancreatic duct were similar to those reported in the literature. These findings are reported in the axial and coronal planes. Comparison with major anatomic classifications was not possible. MRCP enables in vivo anatomic exploration of the main pancreatic duct. Horizontal sections provided new radio-anatomic information. The technique nevertheless remains limited by poor spatial resolution. The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0082-x.

Résumé

Pour confronter la cholangio-pancréato-IRM (CPIRM) à l'anatomie classique dans l'exploration du conduit pancréatique principal, 50 CPIRM ont été réalisées sur des patients sans pathologie pancréatique. Des coupes frontales et horizontales de 20 mm d'épaisseur ont été réalisées en séquence Single Shot Fast Spin Echo (SSFSE). Ont été analysés: (1) la visibilité des structures canalaires pancréatiques; (2) la forme du conduit pancréatique principal; (3) les différentes angulations de ce conduit; et (4) le diamètre du conduit. Les variations anatomiques ont été notées. Ces données ont été confrontées aux données anatomiques et radio-anatomiques (CPRE) de la littérature. Le conduit pancréatique principal a été visualisé dans 100% des cas, le conduit pancréatique accessoire dans 61% des cas sur des coupes horizontales. La forme, le diamètre, et les angulations des différents segments du conduit pancréatique étaient proches de ceux relevés dans la littérature mais, ces dernières ayant été rapportées dans les plans frontaux, la confrontation de notre série aux grandes classifications anatomiques ne fut pas possible. La CPIRM permet l'exploration anatomique in vivo du conduit pancréatique principal. La réalisation de coupes horizontales apporte de nouvelles données radio-anatomiques. Toutefois, la technique est encore limitée par une faible résolution spatiale.

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Correspondence to P. Mercier.

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The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0082-x

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Aubé, C., Hentati, N., Tanguy, JY. et al. Radio-anatomic study of the pancreatic duct by MR cholangiopancreatography. Surg Radiol Anat 25, 64–69 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0082-x

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