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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Multianimal Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Tumor Measurements in Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Models
Published on: February 3, 2026
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumor grade determination using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
Thomas C Lauenstein1, Diego R Martin, Juan M Sarmiento
1Department of Radiology, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA. Thomas.lauenstein@uni-due.de
Objectives:
To determine whether the degree of enhancement of pancreatic adenocarcinoma visualized on arterial phase gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates with the histopathological tumor grade.
Methods:
Thirty-nine patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma had MRI within 14 days before tumor resection. Gadolinium-chelate-enhanced (Gd) 3-dimensional gradient echo images were acquired including the arterial phase. Tumor imaging patterns on the arterial phase images were classified for low, moderate, or high degree of enhancement and compared against conventional histological grading.
Results:
Based on histological grading, there were 12 poorly differentiated, 2 poorly to moderately differentiated, 22 moderately differentiated, and 3 well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. There was agreement between the MRI arterial enhancement pattern and histological grading in 30 of 39 cases. The mean size of tumors grouped by enhancement pattern or grade was not significantly different between groups. Although minor discordance was found in 9 of the 39 cases, statistical analysis showed agreement between the degree of arterial enhancement on MRI and histological tumor differentiation; the Cohen's kappa value was 0.64 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.46-0.83.
Conclusions:
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma arterial phase enhancement correlates with the histological grade of differentiation.
Insights
Arterial phase gadolinium-enhanced MRI shows enhancement patterns that correlate with the histological grade of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This imaging technique can help assess tumor differentiation non-invasively.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a challenging malignancy with variable differentiation.
- Accurate assessment of tumor grade is crucial for prognosis and treatment planning.
- Histopathological grading is the current standard but requires invasive biopsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between arterial phase enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced MRI and the histopathological grade of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Main Methods:
- 39 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent MRI prior to resection.
- Arterial phase images were analyzed for enhancement patterns (low, moderate, high).
- MRI enhancement patterns were compared with conventional histological grading.
Main Results:
- Agreement between MRI enhancement and histological grade was observed in 30 out of 39 cases (Cohen's kappa = 0.64).
- No significant difference in mean tumor size was found between groups.
- Minor discordance was noted in 9 cases, but overall correlation was statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Arterial phase enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced MRI correlates with the histological grade of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
- MRI may offer a non-invasive method to assess tumor differentiation.
