OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare perfusion computed tomography (
CTP) characteristics of the normal pancreas with those of
chronic pancreatitis (CP) and to examine the possibility of evaluating pancreatic exocrine function with
CTP. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (control group, n = 18; CP group, n = 14) who completed the whole pancreas CT perfusion examination with 256-slice CT were studied. Four parameters, including perfusion (PF), peak enhancement intensity (PEI), time-to-peak (
TTP), and blood volume (BV), were measured and compared between the control and CP groups, and between patients with and without
exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in the CP group. Pancreatic exocrine function was determined via serum
trypsinogen. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the distribution of PF, PEI, and BV in different pancreas regions, namely, the head, body, and tail (P > 0.05). PF, PEI, and BV of the CP group were significantly decreased, and
TTP was significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.05). A significant decrease of PF, PEI, and BV and increase of
TTP were observed in patients with EPI than in patients without EPI (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Perfusion CT is an appropriate imaging technique to diagnose CP and may be useful as a screening test to rule out early EPI.