To compare the performance of MR-cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and that of classical anatomy in the depiction of the main pancreatic duct, 50 MRCP examinations were done in patients free of pancreatic disease. Axial and coronal sections 20mm thick were obtained in a Single Shot Fast Spin Echo (SSFSE) sequence. The following were analyzed: (1) visibility of pancreatic duct structures, (2) form of the main pancreatic duct, (3) various angulations of the duct and (4) diameter of the duct. Anatomic variants were noted. These findings were compared with anatomic and radio-anatomic (ERCP) data in the literature. The main pancreatic duct was visualized in 100% of cases and the accessory pancreatic duct in 61%. The form, diameter and angulations of the various segments of the pancreatic duct were similar to those reported in the literature. These findings are reported in the axial and coronal planes. Comparison with major anatomic classifications was not possible. MRCP enables in vivo anatomic exploration of the main pancreatic duct. Horizontal sections provided new radio-anatomic information. The technique nevertheless remains limited by poor spatial resolution. The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0082-x.
Pour confronter la cholangio-pancrato-IRM (CPIRM) lanatomie classique dans lexploration du conduit pancratique principal, 50 CPIRM ont t ralises sur des patients sans pathologie pancratique. Des coupes frontales et horizontales de 20mm dpaisseur ont t ralises en squence Single Shot Fast Spin Echo (SSFSE). Ont t analyss: (1) la visibilit des structures canalaires pancratiques; (2) la forme du conduit pancratique principal; (3) les diffrentes angulations de ce conduit; et (4) le diamtre du conduit. Les variations anatomiques ont t notes. Ces donnes ont t confrontes aux donnes anatomiques et radio-anatomiques (CPRE) de la littrature. Le conduit pancratique principal a t visualis dans 100% des cas, le conduit pancratique accessoire dans 61% des cas sur des coupes horizontales. La forme, le diamtre, et les angulations des diffrents segments du conduit pancratique taient proches de ceux relevs dans la littrature mais, ces dernires ayant t rapportes dans les plans frontaux, la confrontation de notre srie aux grandes classifications anatomiques ne fut pas possible. La CPIRM permet lexploration anatomique in vivo du conduit pancratique principal. La ralisation de coupes horizontales apporte de nouvelles donnes radio-anatomiques. Toutefois, la technique est encore limite par une faible rsolution spatiale.