[MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for the mucin producing pancreatic tumor (MPT)]

MRCP was performed for 17 patients with MPT (main duct type; 7 and branch duct type; 10) using HASTE and single shot RARE with a body phased array coil on a 1.5 T unit. The findings of MRCP were compared with those of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In all cases, MRCP completely disclosed all dilated ducts and cysts, some of which were not seen by ERCP due to mucinous accumulation. In five of seven patients with main duct type, an excrescent nodle was more clearly visualized by ERCP than by MRCP. Mucinous accumulation was not confirmed by MRCP in all cases except one case, in which the dilated branch duct was revealed as lower intensity compared with the main duct using single shot RARE. Therefore MRCP and ERCP are complementary methods in diagnosis for the mucin producing pancreatic tumor.