Johannes T. Heverhagen1,2, Eric Schlaudraff1, Klaus J. Klose1
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology,
Philipps University, Marburg, Germany; 2Department of Radiology, The
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
The purpose of this study was to show and determine the positive effect of secretin in MRCP to improve the reliability of the diagnosis chronic pancreatitis. 62 patients with suspected chronic pancreatitis were prospectively included. Sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and the kappa-coefficient for the agreement between both observers were calculated for examinations before and after secretin application. ). After secretin application sensitivities, specificities and the agreement determined by the kappa-coefficient between the two investigators improved. Application of secretin increases sensitivity, specificity and inter-observer agreement for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Secretin-enhanced MRCP may therefore replace diagnostic ERCP.