Dynamic perfusion CT – A promising tool to diagnose pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study deals with an important issue of setting the role and value of the dynamic computed tomography (CT) perfusion analysis in diagnosing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The study aimed to assess the efficacy of perfusion CT in identifying PDAC, even isodense or hardly depicted in conventional multidetector computed tomography. METHODS: A total of 56 patients with PDAC and 56 control group patients were evaluated in this study. A local perfusion assessment, involving the main perfusion parameters, was evaluated for all the patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for each perfusion CT parameter were defined using cutoff values calculated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. We accomplished logistic regression to identify the probability of PDAC. RESULTS: Blood flow (BF) and blood volume (BV) values were significant independent diagnostic criteria for the presence of PDAC. If both values exceed the determined cutoff point, the estimated probability for the presence of PDAC was 97.69%. CONCLUSIONS: Basic CT perfusion parameters are valuable in providing the radiological diagnosis of PDAC. The estimated BF and BV parameters may serve as independent diagnostic criteria predicting the probability of PDAC.