Mucin-producing pancreatic tumors: Comparison of MR cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

PURPOSE: To compare magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the detection of mucin-producing pancreatic tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed MRCP and ERCP images obtained in 28 patients with mucin-producing pancreatic tumors. Detectability of the pancreatic duct and its branches intraductal cystic:lesions,: and intracystic nodules or septa was assessed. RESULTS: MRCP depicted cystic dilated ductal branches significantly better than did ERCP (P <.001). The difference in the number of nodules, or septa_ detected with MRCP compared with ERCP was not significant. MRCP, however, simultaneously showed not only the main pancreatic duct but also the cystic lesions; this was not always possible with ERCP. CONCLUSION: MRCP appears to be more:effective and less invasive than ERCP to evaluate changes in the size and extent of tumors and to determine if new lesions appear, as well as to follow up mucin-producing pancreatic tumors.