Radio-anatomic study of the pancreatic duct by MR cholangiopancreatography

To compare the performance of MR-cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and that of classical anatomy in the depiction of the main pancreatic duct, 50 MRCP examinations were done in patients free of pancreatic disease. Axial and coronal sections 20 mm thick were obtained in a Single Shot Fast Spin Echo (SSFSE) sequence. The following were analyzed: (1) visibility of pancreatic duct structures, (2) form of the main pancreatic duct, (3) various angulations of the duct and (4) diameter of the duct. Anatomic variants were noted. These findings were compared with anatomic and radio-anatomic (ERCP) data in the literature. The main pancreatic duct was visualized in 100% of cases and the accessory pancreatic duct in 61%. The form, diameter and angulations of the various segments of the pancreatic duct were similar to those reported in the literature. These findings are reported in the axial and coronal planes. Comparison with major anatomic classifications was not possible. MRCP enables in vivo anatomic exploration of the main pancreatic duct. Horizontal sections provided new radio-anatomic information. The technique nevertheless remains limited by poor spatial resolution.