MRI vs. CT for pancreatic adenocarcinoma vascular invasion: comparative diagnostic test accuracy systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesTo perform a systematic review comparing the diagnostic accuracy of MRI vs. CT for assessing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) vascular invasion.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and Scopus were searched until December 2021 for diagnostic accuracy studies comparing MRI vs. CT to evaluate vascular invasion of pathologically confirmed PDAC in the same patients. Findings on resection or exploratory laparotomy were the preferred reference standard. Data extraction, risk of bias, and applicability assessment were performed by two authors using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-Comparative Tool. Bivariate random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsThree studies were included assessing 474 vessels without vascular invasion and 65 with vascular invasion in 107 patients. All patients were imaged using MRI at >= 1.5 T and a pancreatic protocol CT. No difference was shown between MRI and CT for diagnosing PDAC vascular invasion: MRI/CT sensitivity (95% CI) were 71% (47-87%)/74% (56-86%), and specificity were 97% (94-99%)/97% (94-98%). Sources of bias included selection bias from only a subset of CT patients undergoing MRI and verification bias from patients with unresectable disease not confirmed on surgery. No patients received neoadjuvant therapy prior to staging.ConclusionsBased on limited data, no difference was observed between MRI and pancreatic protocol CT for PDAC vascular invasion assessment. MRI may be an adequate substitute for pancreatic protocol CT in some patients, particularly those who have already had a single-phase CT. Larger and more recent cohort studies at low risk of bias, including patients who have received neoadjuvant therapy, are needed.

Automated summary

This study conducted a systematic review comparing the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and CT in assessing vascular invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The results showed no difference between MRI and CT in diagnosing PDAC vascular invasion. MRI may be a suitable alternative to pancreatic protocol CT in some patients, but larger and more recent cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings.