Abstract
The effects of acute pancreatitis on MR imaging signal intensities (Sis) were determined in an experimental study at 1.0 T. Oedematous pancreatitis was induced in 9 piglets and haemorrhagic pancreatitis in 11 piglets. Each animal served as its own control for MR imaging before and after induction of pancreatitis. T1-weighted spin echo (450/15 ms) and dynamic turbo FLASH (flip angle 8°) sequences were used without contrast medium in testing the stability of the SI measurements. There was no significant difference in the S1-versus-time curves of the pancreas in piglets with oedematous and haemorrhagic pancreatitis. However, the difference in mean SIs between healthy and diseased piglets was significant. Thus, although non-contrast MR may be useful in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, it does not distinguish between oedematous and haemorrhagic pancreatitis.