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Liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma: MR imaging characteristics
Author(s) -
Danet IoanaMaria,
Semelka Richard C.,
Nagase Larissa L.,
Woosely John T.,
Leonardou Polytimi,
Armao Diane
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.10337
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , adenocarcinoma , radiology , pancreas , pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma , pancreatic cancer , nuclear medicine , cancer
Purpose: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging spectrum of appearances of liver metastases from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the MRI exams performed between July 1996 and August 2001 in all patients who had liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma and histopathologic diagnosis from either the primary pancreatic tumor, liver metastases, or both. Sixteen patients were included in the study. All MR studies were performed at 1.5 T with a standard protocol including T1‐ and T2‐weighted images and serial post‐gadolinium spoiled gradient echo (SGE) images. Location, size, number, signal characteristics on T1‐ and T2‐weighted images, and pattern of enhancement on serial gadolinium‐enhanced SGE images were assessed. Results: The diameter of metastases ranged from a few millimetres to 4 cm, and 12 patients (75%) had only lesions of 1.5 cm or less. Capsular‐based liver metastases were found in 13 patients (81%) and three patients had only capsular‐based lesions with a diameter under 1.5 cm. Hypervascular lesions were found in six patients (38%) and hypovascular lesions in 10 patients (62%). Perilesional enhancement was present in 10 patients (62%), with six patients (38%) having ring perilesional enhancement and eight patients (50%) having wedge‐shaped perilesional enhancement. Conclusion: On MR imaging, hepatic metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma show a range of enhancement patterns. Hypervascular metastases are not rare. Capsular based distribution, small diameter, and perilesional enhancement are common features. This retrospective study describes the MR imaging spectrum of appearances of liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma in patients with histopathologic confirmation of the diagnosis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:181–188. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.