Pancreas
To detect and characterize focal pancreatic lesions
- Scout (multiple planes)
- T2 weighted Axial with fat suppression
- T1 out of phase Spoiled Gradient Echo (SGE) Axial
- T1 in phase SGE Axial with fat suppression
Post Contrast (0.2ml/kg rapid injection followed by 10 ml saline flush)
- T1 In Phase FLASH Axial with fat suppression at :-
- End of saline flush
- 45 seconds post contrast
- 1.5 minutes post contrast
- MRCP Thick slice axial, RAO for Hepatic ducts, LAO for pancreatic duct
Notes
Pancreatic carcinoma appears with low signal on unenhanced fat suppressed T1 images, but a tumour may be mimicked by age related changes. Immediately post contrast, the normal pancreas enhances avidly leaving the pancreatic carcinoma as a low signal region. Normal pancreatic enhancement drops off rapidly.
