State-of-the-Art Pancreatic MRI

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to discuss the most current techniques used for pancreatic imaging, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of state-of-the-art and emerging pulse sequences and their application to pancreatic disease. CONCLUSION. Given the technologic advances of the past decade, pancreatic MRI protocols have evolved. Most sequences can now be performed in one or a few breath-holds; 3D sequences with thin, contiguous slices offer improved spatial resolution; and better fat and motion suppression allow improved contrast resolution and image quality. The diagnostic potential of MRCP is now almost as good as ERCP, with pancreatic MRI as the main imaging technique to investigate biliopancreatic pain, chronic pancreatitis, and cystic pancreatic tumors at many institutions. In addition, functional information is provided with secretin-enhanced MRCP.