Chronic pancreatitis: MR imaging features before and after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine

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Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in patients with a history (>1 year) of inflammatory pancreatic disease. Calcification was seen at recent computed tomographic examinations in 13 patients and was not seen in nine patients. On fat‐suppressed spin‐echo images, the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the pancreas was significantly lower (P <.001) in patients with pancreatic calcification (18.2 ± 2.5 vs 38.1 ± 6.1). On fast low‐angle shot images, the percentage of contrast enhancement was also significantly lower (P <.001) in patients with calcification (26.1% ± 5.8 vs 78.7% ± 15.9). The results suggest that MR imaging may be useful in evaluating patients with a long history of pancreatic disease for the presence of irreversible disease.