Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI for Measuring Pancreatic Perfusion in Acute Pancreatitis: A Preliminary Study

Rationale and Objectives: To assess the characteristics of pancreatic perfusion in normal pancreas and acute pancreatitis (AP) by using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Method and Materials: Eighty-One AP patients and 26 normal subjects underwent DCE-MRI. The Omitk-Tool was used to analyze perfusion parameters such as K-trans, V-P and AUC. The parameters of pancreas between AP and control groups were compared. In AP patients, the parameters were compared between edematous and necrotizing pancreatitis and among different grades of AP as determined by MR severity index (MRSI) and the 2012 Revised Atlanta Classification of AP. Results: The K-trans, V-P and AUC values of AP were lower than those of the control group (p = 0.007, 0.000, and 0.025). According to MRSI, the K-trans and AUC values were significantly different between mild and moderate (p = 0.000, 0.000) and between mild and severe (p = 0.008, 0.016) AP but not between moderate and severe AP (p = 0.218, 0.217). Based on the 2012 Revised Atlanta Classification, the K-trans values were significantly different between mild and moderately severe (p = 0.000) and between mild and severe (p = 0.005) AP, but not between moderately severe and severe AP (p = 0.619). The K-trans values were significantly different between edematous and necrotizing pancreatitis (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The application of DCE-MRI to evaluate pancreatic perfusion contributes to the diagnosis of AP and its severity grade. Pancreatic perfusion is lower in AP patients than in patients with a normal pancreas, and pancreatic perfusion tends to decrease as the severity of AP increases.