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Pediatric Radiology
Published in: Pediatric Radiology 10/2020

01-09-2020 | Computed Tomography | Original Article

Validation of threshold values for pancreas thickness and T1-weighted signal intensity ratio in the pediatric pancreas

Authors: Brendan M. McCleary, Andrew T. Trout, Jonathan R. Dillman, Qin Sun, Lin Fei, Maisam Abu-El-Haija

Published in: Pediatric Radiology | Issue 10/2020

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Abstract

Background

Pancreas atrophy and the loss of T1-weighted signal intensity by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are findings of chronic pancreatitis.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to test published normal values and cutoffs for pancreas thickness and the pancreas:spleen T1-weighted signal intensity ratio in children without pancreatic disease.

Materials and methods

This was a secondary analysis of prospectively collected MRI data for 50 children (range: 6.3–15.9 years; 27 female) with no history of pancreatic disease. Two observers (R1, R2) measured linear pancreas thickness on axial T1-weighted, fat-saturated gradient recalled echo images and placed regions of interest in the pancreas and spleen to calculate the T1-weighted signal intensity ratio. Measurements were compared to published pediatric normal values (computed tomography [CT], ultrasound [US]) and adult cutoffs (CT, MRI).

Results

Compared to published pediatric values for CT, 68% (R1: 34/50) or 40% (R2: 22/50) of participants had ≥1 pancreas segment with thickness below the normal range. No participant had a thickness value below the normal range published for US. Compared to cutoff values in adults, 84% (R1: 42/50) or 80% (R2: 40/50) of participants met the criteria for pancreas atrophy. Mean T1-weighted signal intensity ratio was 1.33±0.15 (R1) and 1.32±0.16 (R2). Twelve (R1: 24.5% of 49) or 11/49 (R2: 22.4%) participants had a T1-weighted signal intensity ratio below the threshold associated with exocrine insufficiency in adults.

Conclusion

Previously defined thresholds for pancreas thickness and pancreas:spleen T1-weighted signal intensity ratio appear too restrictive for a pediatric population. Further study is needed to define optimal quantitative metrics for findings of chronic pancreatitis in children.
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Metadata
Title
Validation of threshold values for pancreas thickness and T1-weighted signal intensity ratio in the pediatric pancreas
Authors
Brendan M. McCleary
Andrew T. Trout
Jonathan R. Dillman
Qin Sun
Lin Fei
Maisam Abu-El-Haija
Publication date
01-09-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Pediatric Radiology / Issue 10/2020
Print ISSN: 0301-0449
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1998
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-020-04733-x

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