Dynamic non-invasive ASL perfusion imaging of a normal pancreas with secretin augmented MR imaging

To investigate prospectively the repeatability of pancreatic perfusion measurements using arterial spin labelling (ASL) and to determine the increase in perfusion due to secretin stimulation.

An (FAIR)-TrueFISP ASL sequence was applied to determine the perfusion of the pancreatic head in a 3T MRI scanner. Ten healthy volunteers (four men, six women: mean age 28.5 ± 4.6 years; age range 25-40 years) were investigated twice within 1 week. The inter-individual variability was calculated using the standard deviation. Intra-individual agreement between the first and second scan was estimated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. A paired Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare perfusion at baseline (BL) and during secretin stimulation.

The mean BL perfusion of the pancreatic head was 285 ± 96 mL/100 g/min with an intra-individual correlation coefficient of 0.67 (strong) for repeated measurements. Secretin stimulation led to a significant increase (by 81%) in perfusion of the pancreatic head to 486 ±156 mL/100 g/min (p=0.002) with an intra-individual correlation of 0.29 (weak). A return to BL values was observed after 239 ± 92 s with a moderate intra-individual correlation coefficient of 0.42 for repeat measurements.

Dynamic non-invasive ASL imaging of the pancreas permitted quantification of pancreatic perfusion in a clinically applicable setting.

• ASL imaging of the pancreas permitted quantification of pancreatic perfusion • Secretin stimulation led to a significant increase in pancreatic perfusion • The intra-individual correlation coefficient for baseline perfusion was strong for repeated measurements.