Variability of CT contrast enhancement in the pancreas: a cause for concern?

Background: Multidetector CT is a valuable technique for diagnosis/staging in several pancreatic pathologies. Diagnosis is usually based on tissue density measurements. Recently, newer functional CT techniques have been introduced.

Assessment of tumor vascularization in pancreatic adenocarcinoma using 128-slice perfusion computed tomography imaging.

Objective: Computed tomography (CT) perfusion studies can provide valuable information regarding tumor vascularization. We report on a study assessing CT perfusion characteristics in the normal pancreas and in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Twenty healthy subjects and 20 patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in the study after written informed consent and approval by our institutional review board.