Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging and multi-slice spiral computed tomography in the diagnosis of pancreatitis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with pancreatitis.

Methodology: Clinical data of 128 patients with suspected pancreatitis who underwent MRI and MSCT examinations in Jiading District Central Hospital from November 2022 to September 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 64 patients were eventually diagnosed with pancreatitis and 64 received a different diagnosis. Pancreatitis detection rate, diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of MRI and MSCT, as well as the performance of both methods in identifying focal or total pancreatic enlargement and peripancreatic exudate, were compared.

Results: The sensitivity (96.88%), accuracy (96.09%) and NPV (96.83%) of MRI in diagnosing pancreatitis were significantly better than those of MSCT (84.38%, 89.06%, 85.71%, respectively, P<0.05). Both methods had comparable specificity (MRI: 95.31%, MSCT: 93.75%) and PPV (MRI: 95.38%, MSCT: 93.10%) (P>0.05). The detection rate of MRI in identifying pancreatic enlargement (96.00%) and peripancreatic exudate (94.23%) was superior to that of MSCT (82.00% and 76.92%, respectively, P<0.05).

Conclusions: Both MRI and MSCT are high-value diagnostic tools for pancreatitis. However, MRI performs better in identifying pancreatic parenchymal changes and surrounding tissue involvement. Based on the results of this study, clinicians should prioritize MRI as an imaging evaluation method for pancreatitis when possible.