СT and MRI in the assessment of resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic tumors

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the capabilities of CT and MRI in the assessment of resectable and potentially resectable pancreatic tumors.Materials and methods. From 2015 to 2020 CT and MRI examination of the abdomen was performed in 220 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The average age of the patients was 54.6 ± 9.9 years. 198 (90%) patients had a tumor of the pancreas head, 22 (10%) patients had a tumor of the body or tail of the organ. 110 (50%) people were recognized as inoperable. The results of examination of 88 (40%) patients were subjected to in-depth analysis.Results. Eighty eight patients were assessed for tumor resectability. In 36 (40.9%) cases, the neoplasm was recognized as resectable, and the standard resection was performed. In 52 (59.1%) cases, the tumor was determined as borderline resectable; extended gastropancreatoduodenal resection was performed.The usefulness of CT was shown in assessing the features of the variable vascular anatomy of the hepatopancreatobiliary area, determining the nature of the involvement of key vessels in the pathological process and lesions of the pancreas as a whole. The importance of using multiphase CT scanning is demonstrated and emphasized. The advantages of the MRI are indicated, including examples of the effective use of diffusion-weighted images.Conclusion. Multiphase MDCT and MRI with dynamic contrast enhancement are the leading methods of radiological diagnosis of malignant tumors of the pancreas and effectively complement each other.