Sonographic pancreas echogenicity in cystic fibrosis compared to exocrine pancreatic function and pancreas fat content at Dixon-MRI.

Objective: Fatty infiltration of the pancreas is a dominating feature in cystic fibrosis (CF). We evaluate the association between pancreatic fat content assessed by Dixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pancreatic echogenicity at ultrasonography (US) and exocrine function in CF patients and healthy controls (HC).

Material And Methods: Transabdominal US, pancreatic Dixon-MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were performed in 21 CF patients and 15 HCs.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the pancreas shows impaired perfusion in pancreas insufficient cystic fibrosis patients.

Background: Perfusion assessment of the pancreas is challenging and poorly evaluated. Pancreatic affection is a prevalent feature of cystic fibrosis (CF). Little is known about pancreatic perfusion in CF.

Secretin-stimulated MRI assessment of exocrine pancreatic function in patients with cystic fibrosis and healthy controls.

Purpose: Secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance imaging (s-MRI) and pancreatic diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) are novel non-invasive imaging techniques for assessment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). The aim was to validate s-MRI assessed pancreatic secreted volume using novel semi-automatic quantification software, and to assess the ability of s-MRI with DWI to diagnose EPI in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: s-MRI and DWI was performed in 19 patients with CF (median age 21 years; range 16-56; eight men) and in 10 healthy controls (HC) (median age 46 years; range 20-65; four men).

Need of education for dry powder inhaler storage and retention - a patient-reported survey.

Background: Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are the most commonly used devices in asthma treatment in the Nordic countries. As new DPIs become available, patients are likely to be exposed to more than one type of device, with variable optimal handling. The aim was to examine real life storage and retention of multidose DPIs in patients with asthma.

Diagnostic Accuracy of a Short Endoscopic Secretin Test in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis.

Objective: Short endoscopic secretin tests for exocrine pancreatic function are not properly evaluated in cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: Patients with CF and healthy controls (HCs) underwent endoscopic collection of duodenal juice between 30 and 45 minutes after secretin stimulation. Duodenal juice was analyzed for HCO3 concentration and pancreatic enzyme activities.