Peripancreatic arteries in thin-section multislice helical CT

Background: The normal and pathologic anatomies of the peripancreatic arteries were demonstrated using thin-section multislice computed tomography (CT). Methods: Triple-phase dynamic CT was performed in 304 consecutive patients without pancreatic pathology and in 22 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. CT angiographies images (2.5-mm collimation, multihelical pitch 3, HQ mode) and a 1.25-mm reconstruction interval were obtained with a GE Lightspeed Qx/i at 25, 40, and 80 s after bolus injection of 130-150 mt of iodinated contrast medium at a rate of 3-5 mL/s. The images were assessed mainly by the manual cine paging method. Results: The anterior and posterior arcades and the dorsal pancreatic artery were frequently visualized. However, small-caliber arteries smaller than 1.5 mm in diameter, such as the pancreaticomagna, caudal pancreatic, and transverse pancreatic arteries, were infrequently visualized. In some cases, the peripancreatic arteries were very useful for differentiating the origin of tumors. Conclusion: Multislice helical CT enables the recognition of small peripancreatic arteries, and evaluation of these arteries should be considered when assessing tumors in the pancreaticoduodenal region.