Onofrio Antonio Catalano MD, Presenter: RSNA travel expenses covered by Siemens HealthCare

Dushyant V. Sahani MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, General Electric Company

Bruce R. Rosen MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Siemens AG

Emanuele Nicolai, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Angelo Luongo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marco Catalano, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Peter F. Hahn MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Stockholder, Abbott Laboratories Stockholder, Covidien AG Stockholder, CVS Caremark Corporation Stockholder, Kimberly-Clark Corporation Stockholder, Landauer, Inc

Marco Aiello, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andrea Soricelli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marco Salvatore MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare the staging performance of whole-body PET/MR with PET/CT in patients with pancreatic cancer.

In this retrospective IRB approved study, 24 consecutive patients affected by pancreatic cancer underwent whole-body hybrid FDG-PET/CT (Gemini TF, Philips) and same day FDG-PET/MR (Biograph mMR, Siemens). PET/CT and PET/MR studies were independently evaluated by two readers. TNM staging according to PET/MR and PET/CT was compared.  

PET/MR imaging quality was deemed adequate for diagnostic purposes in all. 14/24 pancreatic cancer patients showed avid FDG lesions. In 15/24 staging between PET/MR and PET/CT was concordant. In the remaining 9/24, PET/MR up-staged 5: In 1 PET negative lymph nodes were DWI positive and had supportive MR morphologic criteria, In 1 PET negative liver metastasis demonstrated pathologic enhancement on MR, In 2 negative PET/CT, PET/MR demonstrated locally resectable cancer. In 1 a questionable pancreatic lesion on PET/CT was definitively diagnosed as resectable pancreatic cancer on PET/MR. PET/MR down-staged 3 positive PET/CT demonstrating: In 1 focal pancreatitis, In 1 post-electroporetic inflammatory changes In 1 benign post surgical bowel loop changes. Moreover it demonstrated focal pancreatitis in 1 negative case on PET/CT, referred to us for a suspicious pancreatic cancer on ultrasound.  

PET/MR imaging provides all the diagnostic benefits of PET/CT in the assessment of pancreatic cancer patients, with the benefits of superior local, hepatic and nodal staging and accuracy in comparison to PET/CT.

PET/MR might represent a very promising and innovative technique for accurate staging and follow up of pancreatic cancer patients.

Catalano, O, Sahani, D, Rosen, B, Nicolai, E, Luongo, A, Catalano, M, Hahn, P, Aiello, M, Soricelli, A, Salvatore, M, Pancreatic Cancer Staging: Comparison of Whole-body Hybrid PET/MR and PET/CT Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14012982.html