Pancreatic cystic neoplasms and post-inflammatory cysts: interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance of MRI with MRCP.

PURPOSE: We aimed to answer several clinically relevant questions; (1) the interobserver agreement, (2) diagnostic performance of MRI with MRCP for (a) branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMN), mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) and serous cystic neoplasms (SCN), (b) distinguishing mucinous (BD-IPMN and MCN) from non-mucinous cysts, and (c) distinguishing three pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) from post-inflammatory cysts (PIC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed at a tertiary referral center for pancreatic diseases on 71 patients including 44 PCNs and 27 PICs. All PCNs were confirmed by surgical pathology to be 17 BD-IPMNs, 13 MCNs, and 14 SCNs. Main duct and mixed type IPMNs were excluded. Two experienced abdominal radiologists blindly reviewed all the images. RESULTS: Sensitivity of two radiologists for BD-IPMN, MCN and SCN was 88-94%, 62-69% and 57-64%, specificity of 67-78%, 67-78% and 67-78%, and accuracy of 77-82%, 65-75% and 63-73%, respectively. There was 80% sensitivity, 63-73% specificity, 70-76% accuracy for distinguishing mucinous from non-mucinous neoplasms, and 73-75% sensitivity, 67-78% specificity, 70-76% accuracy for distinguishing all PCNs from PICs. There was moderate-to-substantial interobserver agreement (Cohen's kappa: 0.65). CONCLUSION: Two experienced abdominal radiologists had moderate-to-high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for BD-IPMN, MCN, and SCN. The interobserver agreement was moderate-to-substantial. MRI with MRCP can help workup of incidental pancreatic cysts by distinguishing PCNs from PICs, and premalignant mucinous neoplasms from cysts with no malignant potential.

Acinarization (parenchymal blush) observed during secretin-enhanced MRCP: clinical implications.

OBJECTIVE: T2 hyperintensity of pancreatic acini during secretin-enhanced MRCP is called "acinarization." We sought to determine the clinical significance of this finding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were selected if the radiology report included the phrases "acin*" (where * represented a wild card search) or "blush" using the institution's customized lexicon-search software. Sixty-seven consecutive patients without acinarization on secretin-enhanced MRCP who also underwent ERCP were enrolled as the control group. The intensity of acinarization was classified into three groups: grade 0, no visible acinarization; grade 1, barely visible parenchymal hyperintensity; or grade 2, easily visible parenchymal hyperintensity. ERCP findings of ductal abnormalities and basal pancreatic sphincter manometry were recorded. RESULTS: There were higher frequencies of divisum (p = 0.001) and of a clinical history of recurrent acute pancreatitis (p < 0.001) and higher basal pancreatic sphincter of Oddi manometric pressure measurements (p = 0.008) in the acinarization group. There was no difference in the frequency of ERCP-defined chronic pancreatitis (p = 0.10) between the groups. In patients with acinarization, a higher mean sphincter pressure was seen in patients with more intense acinarization than in those with faint acinarization, but this difference was not significant (p = 0.22). Ampullary tumors were found in four patients with acinarization. CONCLUSION: Acinarization probably occurs in patients with a propensity for increased pancreatic ductal pressure (i.e., patients with divisum, elevated basal pancreatic sphincter pressure, ampullary tumor) and adequate exocrine function (absence of severe chronic pancreatitis).

Phase 1 pharmacogenetic and pharmacodynamic study of sorafenib with concurrent radiation therapy and gemcitabine in locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: To define the safety, efficacy, and pharmacogenetic and pharmacodynamic effects of sorafenib with gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) intravenously weekly × 3 every 4 weeks per cycle for 1 cycle before CRT and continued for up to 4 cycles after CRT. Weekly gemcitabine 600 mg/m(2) intravenously was given during concurrent intensity modulated radiation therapy of 50 Gy to gross tumor volume in 25 fractions. Sorafenib was dosed orally 400 mg twice daily until progression, except during CRT when it was escalated from 200 mg to 400 mg daily, and 400 mg twice daily. The maximum tolerated dose cohort was expanded to 15 patients. Correlative studies included dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and angiogenesis genes polymorphisms (VEGF-A and VEGF-R2 single nucleotide polymorphisms). RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicity occurred during induction gemcitabine/sorafenib followed by concurrent CRT. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were fatigue, hematologic, and gastrointestinal. The maximum tolerated dose was sorafenib 400 mg twice daily. The median progression-free survival and overall survival for 25 evaluable patients were 10.6 and 12.6 months, respectively. The median overall survival for patients with VEGF-A -2578 AA, -1498 CC, and -1154 AA versus alternate genotypes was 21.6 versus 14.7 months. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI demonstrated higher baseline K(trans) in responding patients. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent sorafenib with CRT had modest clinical activity with increased gastrointestinal toxicity in localized unresectable pancreatic cancer. Select VEGF-A/VEGF-R2 genotypes were associated with favorable survival.

The utility of secretin-enhanced MRCP in diagnosing congenital anomalies.

PURPOSE: To assess the additional value of secretin-enhanced MRCP (SMRCP) over conventional MRCP in diagnosing divisum. METHODS: Retrospective HIPAA-compliant and IRB-approved review found 140 patients with SMRCP and ERCP correlation within 6 months of each other. All studies were anonymized and the SMRCP images (SMRCP image set) were separated from 2D and 3D MRCP and axial and coronal T2-weighted images (conventional MRI image set). Each image set on each patient was assigned different and randomized case numbers. Two reviewers (R1 and R2) independently reviewed the image sets for divisum vs. no divisum, complete divisum vs. incomplete divisum, and the certainty of diagnosis (1 = definitely certain, 2 = moderately certain, and 3 = unsure). ERCP findings were taken as gold standard. RESULTS: There was no difference in age and gender between the divisum (n = 97, with 13 incomplete divisum) and no divisum (n = 43) groups. In diagnosing divisum anatomy, the sensitivity was higher for SMRCP compared to conventional MRI for R1 (84.5 vs. 72.2, p = 0.02) but not R2 (89.7 vs. 84.4, p = 0.25). The specificity was higher in SMRCP image set compared to conventional MRI (R1: 88.1 vs. 76.2, p = 0.01; R2: 81.4 vs. 65.1, p < 0.001). The mean area under ROC curve was higher for SMRCP image set (R1: 0.86 vs. 0.74, p = 0.01; R2: 0.87 vs. 0.74, p = 0.01). The certainty of diagnosis was higher in SMRCP image set compared to conventional MRI (p = 0.02 for both reviewers). SMRCP was not found to be superior in distinguishing incomplete from complete divisum. The main reasons for erroneous SMRCP diagnosis were the presence of an ansa loop in the main duct and ductal strictures due to chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Even though the reviewers had more sequences (axial and coronal) to evaluate in the non-secretin image set, there was some improvement in diagnosing divisum with SMRCP.

Usefulness of conventional MRI sequences and diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiating malignant from benign portal vein thrombus in cirrhotic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and conventional MRI (non-DWI sequences) in differentiating benign portal vein thrombus (PVT) from malignant PVT in cirrhotic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective search of the department of radiology's MRI database of examinations performed from October 2006 through December 2010 for "portal vein thrombosis" and "cirrhosis" and "hepatocellular cancer" was performed. Patients who underwent diagnostic DWI and had thrombus shown to be rapidly (< 3 months) increasing in size despite anticoagulation therapy were considered to have malignant PVT (n = 16 cases) and patients with MRI findings showing stability or reduction in the extent of thrombus over a 12-month follow-up were considered to have benign PVT (n = 20 cases). Two blinded and independent reviewers analyzed the DW images and conventional MR images. RESULTS: There was no difference in the distribution of patients by age (p = 0.25) or sex (p = 0.68) between the benign and malignant PVT groups. On multivariate analysis, the only parameter to predict the type of PVT was the size of HCC (p = 0.05); other parameters were excluded from the model. There was substantial overlap in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and PVT/liver ADC ratios of benign PVT and malignant PVT. The presence of at least two of the three following MRI findings had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 90% for the diagnosis of malignant PVT: distance from tumor to PVT of less than 2 cm, HCC size of greater than 5 cm, and arterial enhancement of PVT. CONCLUSION: Signal-intensity characteristics on DWI and measured ADC values do not reliably differentiate benign PVT from malignant PVT. On the other hand, careful assessment of conventional MRI findings may allow this distinction, thus obviating biopsy.

Peritoneal and retroperitoneal anatomy and its relevance for cross-sectional imaging.

It is difficult to identify normal peritoneal folds and ligaments at imaging. However, infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, and traumatic processes frequently involve the peritoneal cavity and its reflections; thus, it is important to identify the affected peritoneal ligaments and spaces. Knowledge of these structures is important for accurate reporting and helps elucidate the sites of involvement to the surgeon. The potential peritoneal spaces; the peritoneal reflections that form the peritoneal ligaments, mesenteries, and omenta; and the natural flow of peritoneal fluid determine the route of spread of intraperitoneal fluid and disease processes within the abdominal cavity. The peritoneal ligaments, mesenteries, and omenta also serve as boundaries for disease processes and as conduits for the spread of disease.

Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of the efficacy of the Prolift system for pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare pre- and postoperative pelvic organ prolapse-quantification (POP-Q) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in patients who undergo total Prolift (Ethicon, Inc, Somerville, NJ) colpopexy. STUDY DESIGN: Pre- and postoperative MRI and POP-Q examinations were performed on patients with stage 2 or greater prolapse who underwent the Prolift procedure. MRI measurements were taken at maximum descent. Correlations between changes in MRI and POP-Q measurements were determined. RESULTS: Ten subjects were enrolled. On MRI, statistically significant changes were seen with cystocele, enterocele, and apex. Statistically significant changes were seen on POP-Q measurements for Aa, Ba, C, Ap, Bp, and GH. Positive correlations were demonstrated between POP-Q and MRI changes. Minimal tissue reaction was seen on MRI. CONCLUSION: The Prolift system is effective in the surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse as measured by POP-Q and MRI. Postoperative MRIs support the inert nature of polypropylene mesh.

State-of-the-art pancreatic MRI.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to discuss the most current techniques used for pancreatic imaging, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of state-of-the-art and emerging pulse sequences and their application to pancreatic disease. CONCLUSION: Given the technologic advances of the past decade, pancreatic MRI protocols have evolved. Most sequences can now be performed in one or a few breath-holds; 3D sequences with thin, contiguous slices offer improved spatial resolution; and better fat and motion suppression allow improved contrast resolution and image quality. The diagnostic potential of MRCP is now almost as good as ERCP, with pancreatic MRI as the main imaging technique to investigate biliopancreatic pain, chronic pancreatitis, and cystic pancreatic tumors at many institutions. In addition, functional information is provided with secretin-enhanced MRCP.

Usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging in the evaluation of renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to assess the value of diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiating among the various subgroups of renal masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study measured the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of renal masses. Malignant lesions were confirmed with surgical pathology results. Benign cystic lesions were stable without treatment for a minimum follow-up of 24 months. RESULTS: There were 20 and 22 patients, respectively, with benign lesions (three abscess, 31 cysts) and malignant lesions (17 clear cell, five papillary, one chromophobe, and two transitional cell cancers). The malignant lesions were larger than the benign lesions (mean diameter, 4.2 vs 2.6 cm, respectively; p = 0.01, Student's t test). The ADC values of the benign lesions were significantly higher than those of the malignant lesions (mean, 2.72 vs 1.88 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s; p < 0.0001). The ADCs of the 31 benign cysts were significantly higher than those of the seven cystic renal cancers (2.77 vs 2.02 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the ADCs of clear cell cancers and non-clear cell cancers (1.85 vs 1.97 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s; p = 0.18), but an ADC of less than 1.79 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s was seen only with clear cell cancer. The ADCs of high-grade clear cell cancers (Fuhrman grades III and IV) tended to be lower than those of low-grade clear cell cancers (1.77 vs 1.95 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s; p = 0.12). Among the clear cell cancers, an ADC value of greater than 2.12 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s was seen only with low-grade histology. For differentiating benign from malignant lesions, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.989 (95% CI, 0.919-0.996; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: ADC measurements may aid in differentiating among the various subgroups of renal masses, particularly benign cystic lesions from cystic renal cell cancers.

Value of diffusion-weighted MRI for assessing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine the usefulness of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of liver parenchyma for determining the severity of liver fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study investigated 78 patients who underwent diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with 1.5-T MRI and pathologic staging of liver fibrosis based on biopsy. DWI was performed with b values of 50 and 400 s/mm(2). ADCs of liver were measured using 2.0- to 3.0-cm(2) regions of interest in the right and left lobes of the liver; the mean ADC value was used for analysis. Pathologic METAVIR scores for liver fibrosis stage were used as a reference standard. RESULTS: The mean ADC values for fibrosis pathologically staged using the METAVIR classification system as F0 (n = 11), F1 (n = 16), F2 (n = 10), F3 (n = 14), and F4 (n = 27) were 125.9, 105.0, 104.5, 103.2, and 99.1 x 10(-5) s/mm(2), respectively. The correlation between the ADC values and the degree of liver fibrosis was moderate (Spearman's test, rho = -0.36). There was a significant difference in ADC values between patients with nonfibrotic liver (F0) and those with cirrhotic liver (F4) (p = 0.008). The best cutoff ADC value to distinguish between these groups was 118 x 10(-5) s/mm(2). However, ADC values were not useful for differentiating viral hepatitis patients with F2 fibrosis or higher from those with a lower degree of fibrosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.66) or for differentiating low-stage fibrosis in all patients from high-stage fibrosis in all patients (AUC = 0.54). CONCLUSION: The ADCs in cirrhotic livers are significantly lower than those in nonfibrotic livers. However, ADC values measured using the current generation of scanners are not reliable enough to replace liver biopsy for staging hepatic fibrosis.

The value of diffusion-weighted imaging in characterizing focal liver masses.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To determine if focal liver masses could be differentiated as benign or malignant on the basis of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 104 patients with focal liver masses were scanned using 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DWI was performed with b values of 0, 50, and 400 s/mm(2). Of these, 76 patients had lesions larger than 2 cm diameter, radiologic or pathologic characterization of the lesion, and diagnostic quality DWI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the largest liver lesion was measured. The liver masses were diagnosed on histology or had characteristic computed tomography/MRI findings and follow up of more than 6 months. The analyzed lesions were hemangioma (n = 17), cysts (n = 5), hepatocellular cancer (HCC) (n = 41), adenoma (n = 3), focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) (n = 6), and metastases (n = 4). RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) ADC values (10(-5) mm(2)/second) of hemangiomas, cysts, FNH, and HCC were 156.8 (54.1), 190.2 (43.0), 130.1 (81.9), and 107.6 (32.7). The ADC of cysts and hemangiomas were significantly higher than that of other lesions (P = .0003, t-test). There was no significant difference between ADC values of solid, benign liver lesions (FNH, adenoma) and malignant lesions (HCC, metastases) (P = .62). CONCLUSION: Solid liver lesions have a lower ADC than cysts and hemangiomas. However, there is no significant difference in ADC between solid benign and malignant lesions. DWI appears to have only minimal additional value over currently used MRI sequences in characterizing liver masses.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: predictors of malignant and invasive pathology.

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether size and other preoperative parameters predict malignant or invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: From 1991 to 2006, 150 patients underwent 156 operations for IPMN. METHODS: Prospectively collected, retrospective review of a single academic institution's experience. All preoperative parameters including a detailed radiologic-based classification of IPMN type, location, distribution, size, number, cytology, and mural nodularity were correlated with IPMN pathology. RESULTS: Malignant IPMN was present in 32% of cases, whereas 19% of cases were invasive. IPMN type and main pancreatic duct diameter were significant predictors of malignant IPMN (P<0.001). Side-branch lesion number was negatively associated with invasive IPMN (P=0.03). Side-branch size, location, and distribution did not predict IPMN pathology. The presence of mural nodules was associated with malignant and invasive IPMN (P<0.001; P<0.02). Atypical cytopathology was significantly associated with malignant and invasive IPMN (P<0.001; P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated mural nodularity and atypical cytopathology were predictive of malignancy and/or invasion in branch-type IPMN. CONCLUSIONS: To lower the rate of invasive pathology, surgery should be recommended for fit patients with main-duct IPMN and for branch-duct IPMN with mural nodularity or positive cytology irrespective of location, distribution, or size.

Abdominal MR imaging at 3.0 T.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 3.0 T offers an improved signal-to-noise ratio compared with that at 1.5 T. However, the physics of high field strength also brings disadvantages, such as increases in the specific absorption rate, in magnetic field inhomogeneity effects, and in susceptibility artifacts. The use of 3.0-T MR imaging for abdominal evaluations, in particular, has lagged behind that for other applications because of the difficulty of imaging a large volume while compensating for respiratory motion. At a minimum, abdominal MR imaging at 3.0 T requires modifications in the pulse sequences used at 1.5 T. Such modifications may include a decrease in the flip angle used for refocusing pulses and an increase in the repetition time for T1-weighted acquisitions. In addition, parallel imaging and other techniques (hyper-echo sequences, transition between pseudo steady states) may be used to maintain a high signal-to-noise ratio while decreasing acquisition time and minimizing the occurrence of artifacts on abdominal MR images.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: CT and MRI findings.

The objective of this study was to report the CT and MRI appearances of primary and metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The clinical and imaging findings of 31 patients with histological and immunohistochemical diagnosis of GIST were reviewed. The CT and MRI findings were assessed independently for size, location, enhancement characteristics, and pattern of metastatic disease. The tumors were of enteric (n=13), gastric (n=12), duodenal (n=2), and rectal (n=3) origin. In one case the primary site was the mesentery, without involvement of bowel. Primary tumors were typically exophytic (79%), larger than 5 cm (84%), and inhomogeneously enhancing (84%). Central necrosis of all tumors (37%) and aneurysmal dilation of enteric tumors (33%) were less common. Metastases were most commonly to mesentery (26%) or liver (32%). Less common findings were ascites (7%) and omental caking (3%). Liver metastases were hypervascular in 92% of patients and rapidly became cystic following therapy with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec; Novartis, East Hanover, NJ, USA). Lung metastases, bowel obstruction, vascular invasion, and significant lymphadenopathy were not seen in any patient. GISTs have some specific CT findings which could help differentiate them from other gastrointestinal tumors. Liver metastases became cystic following therapy, mimicking simple cysts. MRI was better than single-phase CT for assessing liver metastases, while CT was more sensitive for mesenteric metastases.

Primary epiploic appendagitis: CT diagnosis.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the CT signs of primary epiploic appendagitis. A retrospective search of the CT database over 12 months for this diagnosis revealed 11 cases. The clinical findings were recorded. Softcopy CT images were reviewed by two experienced abdominal radiologists (KS, DM) for location of lesion, size, shape, presence of central hyperdense focus, degree of bowel wall thickening, mass effect, and ancillary signs. Abdominal pain was the primary symptom in all patients. Preliminary diagnoses were appendicitis (n=2), diverticulitis (n=5), pancreatitis (n=1), ovarian lesion (n=1), or unknown (n=2). Abdominal examination and white blood cell count were uninformative. CT examination revealed a solitary (n=11), ovoid (n=9) fatty lesion with some soft tissue stranding adjacent to the left colon (n=6), transverse colon (n=3), or right colon (n=2). Central hyperdensity (n=5), mild bowel wall thickening (n=2), and parietal peritoneal thickening (n=4) were also seen. In 4 patients the lesions were not visible on follow-up CT examination performed 23-184 days later. Primary epiploic appendagitis can clinically mimic other, more serious inflammatory conditions. Knowledge of its findings on CT would help the radiologist make the diagnosis and allow a more conservative approach to patient care.