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Comparative Study
. 2019 May 24;19(1):43.
doi: 10.1186/s12880-019-0341-5.

Difference analysis in prevalence of incidental pancreatic cystic lesions between computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Shuo Zhu  1 , Wen-Tao Wang  1 , Xiao-Sha Shang  1 , Ting Ni  1 , Wen-Chuan Wu  2 , Wen-Hui Lou  2 , Meng-Su Zeng  1 , Sheng-Xiang Rao  3
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Difference analysis in prevalence of incidental pancreatic cystic lesions between computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Shuo Zhu et al. BMC Med Imaging. .

Abstract

Background: The purpose was to investigate the difference of detection rate of incidental pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to compare the difference between CT and MRI and to explore the effect of this difference on surgical resection.

Methods: We reviewed the diagnostic reports for incidental PCLs between 2013 and 2016. Images of PCLs would be re-evaluated. Clinical and imaging data were recorded. The chi-square and independent t-test were conducted for categorical and continuous variables.

Results: The prevalence of PCLs was 1.91% (1038/54210) and 3.36% (1282/38099) on CT and MRI respectively, and increased with increasing age (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the annual prevalence of PCLs on CT (P = 0.796) and MRI (P = 0.213) from 2013 to 2016 while the number of examinations was increasing every year. The annual detection rate of MRI for small PCLs (< 20 mm) was significantly higher than CT (P < 0.001), but was not significantly different for large PCLs (≥20 mm). The rate of surgical resection of PCLs (≥20 mm) in MRI group was higher than CT (55.2% vs. 37.0%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The detection rate of PCLs on CT and MRI tended to be stable despite increasing scan volumes. Female had a slightly more frequency of PCLs than male. MRI detected more small PCLs(< 20 mm) and had higher impact on surgical resection of large PCL(≥20 mm) compared with CT.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Pancreatic cyst; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram shows inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Imaging features of PCLs detected by CT. a a patient with a small (6 mm) cyst in the body of pancreas. Transverse image from contrast-enhanced CT scan shows slightly low-density lesion (arrow) in the body of the pancreas and is easy to be misdiagnosed as pancreatic fat infiltration. b a patient with a cyst in the head of pancreas. Transverse image shows a low-density lesion in the head of pancreas with dilation of main pancreatic duct (arrow)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Imaging features of PCLs detected by MRI. A patient with multiple small cysts in the head of pancreas. a, and b, transverse T2-weighted fat-suppressed turbo-spin-echo (TSE) MR images and MR cholangiopancreatography show multiple cysts (arrow) with well-defined homogeneous signal intensity in the head of pancreas
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Detection rate by age and locations of PCLs between CT and MRI. a Figure shows the detection rate of PCLs increased with increasing age. b Figure shows the locations of PCLs detected by CT and MRI
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Numbers of CT and MRI examinations and detection rate of PCLs from 2013 to 2016. a Figure shows the annual number of CT and MRI examinations between 2013 and 2016. The number was increasing every year. b Figure shows the detection rate of PCLs on CT and MRI from 2013 to 2016. There was no significant difference in the annual detection rate of PCLs in CT or MRI. The detection rate of MRI was higher than CT
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