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Updated: May 23, 2026
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of an Orthotopic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model
Published on: April 18, 2015
Computed tomography perfusion analysis of pancreatic carcinoma
Miriam Klauss1, Wolfram Stiller, Franziska Fritz
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. miriam.klauss@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate CT perfusion of pancreatic carcinomas using the Patlak model for assessing perfusion, permeability, and blood volume.
Methods:
A total of 25 patients with pancreatic carcinoma were examined prospectively with a 64-slice computed tomography (CT) using a dynamic sequence after intravenous injection of 80-mL contrast material (370 mg/mL; flow rate, 5 mL/s). Eighty-kilovolt (peak) perfusion acquisitions were evaluated for estimating perfusion parameters for carcinoma and healthy tissue using a 2-compartment model (Patlak model).
Results:
Twenty patients had hypodense tumors; in 5 patients, the tumor could not be delineated in contrast-enhanced CT. All carcinomas could be identified clearly in the color-coded perfusion maps. Perfusion, permeability, and blood volume values were significant lower in pancreatic carcinomas compared to healthy pancreatic tissue (0.27 ± 0.20 vs 0.89 ± 0.19 min, P < 0.0001; 0.43 ± 0.20 vs 0.75 ± 0.16 × 0.5 min, P < 0.0001; and 38.9 ± 20.7 vs 117.8 ± 46.9 mL/100 mL, P < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
Computed tomographic perfusion of the pancreas using a 2-compartment perfusion model is feasible. Color-coded perfusion maps could be a helpful tool to delineate pancreatic carcinomas even if they are not visible in contrast-enhanced CT.
