Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 1, 2004; 10(13): 1943-1947
Published online Jul 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i13.1943
Role of curved planar reformations using multidetector spiral CT in diagnosis of pancreatic and peripancreatic diseases
Jing-Shan Gong, Jian-Min Xu
Jing-Shan Gong, Jian-Min Xu, Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Jinan University), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Medical Research Fund of Guangdong Province, No. A2002634
Correspondence to: Dr. Jing-Shan Gong, Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Jinan University), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China. jshgong@sina.com.cn
Telephone: +86-755-25533018 Fax: +86-755-25618655
Received: December 10, 2003
Revised: January 5, 2004
Accepted: January 12, 2004
Published online: July 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the role of curved planar reformations using multidetector spiral CT (MSCT) in diagnosis of pancreatic and peripancreatic diseases.

METHODS: From October 2001 to September 2003, 47 consecutive patients with pancreatic or peripancreatic diseases, which were confirmed by operation, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and clinical follow-up, were enrolled in this study. CT scanning was performed at a MSCT with four rows of detector. A set of images with an effective thickness of 1.0-2.0 mm and a gap of 0.5-1.0 mm (50% overlap) were acquired in all patients for post-processing. Curved planar reformations were carried out by drawing a curved line on transverse source images, coronal or sagittal multiplanar reformations according to certain anatomic structures (such as cholangiopancreatic ducts or peripancreatic vessels) and the position of lesion.

RESULTS: With thin collimation, MSCT could acquire high-quality curved planar reformations to display the profile of the whole pancreas, to trace the cholangiopancreatic ducts and peripancreatic vessels, and to show the relationship of lesions with pancreas and peripancreatic anatomic structures in one curved plane, which facilitates diagnosis and rapid communication of diagnostic information with referring physicians.

CONCLUSION: MSCT with thin collimation could be used to create high-quality curved planar reformations in evaluating pancreatic and peripancreatic diseases with pertinent anatomic information and relative pathologic signs to facilitate the diagnosis and enhance communication with the referring physician. Curved planar reformations can serve as supplements for transverse images in diagnosis and management of pancreatic and peripancreatic diseases.

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