Computed tomographic evaluation of the dilated pancreatic duct: the value of thin-section collimation

Three patients with surgically proved pancreatic carcinoma and one with chronic and acute pancreatitis were evaluated by computed tomography. Scans through the pancreatic region were initially performed with standard 10-mm collimation and then repeated using thin-section (5-mm) collimation. In all cases a pathologically dilated pancreatic duct was either not seen or faint with 10-mm collimation, whereas it was clearly identified using the thin-section collimator.